Whilst on the one side of the world André Greipel and his team mates began the competition, with a time difference of 13,5 hours stage race specialist Jürgen Van den Broeck and co were riding their first kilometers in Argentina. With a fifth place for Van den Broeck and a ninth place for De Clercq in the GC that stage race, with big names at the start, can also be called successful.

“Generally I find we rode well, certainly as a team. I’d had loved to go home with a stage win, but the fact that a lot of strong riders were present and the good performances of the South-Americans didn’t make it easy. And we didn’t have a sprinter with us here. In each of the flat stages someone of us finished in the top ten,” says sports director Mario Aerts.

“It would have been very nice to win a stage here with Jurgen, he’s riding well but of course we aren’t in July yet. With also Bart De Clercq in the top ten I am satisfied. Bart could maintain himself well, he could assist Jurgen in different stages and showed he’s still evolving. Without the bad luck in the fifth stage – puncture and crash – there might have been more possible. Also Frederik Willems did a lot of useful work for the team. In the last stage Kenny Dehaes rode in the breakaway the whole day. Joost Van Leijen had to give up.”

“I can say that this Tour de San Luis was appreciated by everyone. I have the impression that all the riders want to come back. You stay in the same hotel for ten days and the climate is good to race, there are three stages, then a time trial which is a halve rest day for most and then three more stages. With three flat stages and three tough stages everyone gets what he wants, although I find it more a race for climbers,” concludes the Lotto Belisol sports director.