Like most other teams, Lotto Belisol will have their riders spread all over Europe this weekend when they line up for their national championships. While most of the team's riders will naturally line up for the Belgian race, the team also has a number of cards to play in other parts of Europe.
On Sunday Lotto Belisol riders will participate in the title race elsewhere in Europe. Germany, France, the Netherlands and Norway. Here you find an overview of what André Greipel, Marcel Sieberg, Tony Gallopin, Pim Ligthart and Vegard Breen may expect in their respective championships.
Germany
Current national champion André Greipel and teammate Marcel Sieberg will ride in Baunatal, central Germany. The riders have to cover twelve laps of just over 17 kilometers, good for a total distance of 205 kilometers. There are 1428 altitude meters in the entire race. If a bunch sprint should decide about the title Greipel will have to compete against Gerald Ciolek, John Degenkolb and Marcel Kittel.
France
Futuroscope welcomes the French championship this year. This theme park , in the region Poitou-Charentes, was already several times the start or finish place in the Tour. At half past ten Tony Gallopin and 140 others will take off in the centre of Poitiers towards the official start. The race is 251.7 kilometers long. After 16.5 kilometers the riders get on the local circuit where twelve laps of 19.6 kilometers have to be covered. There are uphill parts on the course, but it never goes higher than 120 meters altitude. There are some strong teams at the start: FDJ (25), Europcar (22), AG2R (18) and Cofidis (15).
The Netherlands
Pim Ligthart is extra motivated because the Dutch championship takes place in Ootmarsum, where he won the title in 2011. In the 13.5 kilometers long lap, which has to be covered eighteen times, are two hills: Kuiperberg and Wittenberg. The total distance is 243 kilometers. With twenty riders Belkin has the largest number of participants. In the Dauphiné Ligthart showed he's in a good condition by attacking several times.
Norway
Neo pro Vegard Breen rides the Norwegian championship in Eidsvoll, located in the south of the country. The race is 184 kilometers long, divided over eight laps. There's one climb on the course. The top, at 298 meters, lies at eight kilometers from the finish.
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