Lotto Belisol go into Paris-Tours with two in-form sprinters. While Jens Debusschere and Jonas Vangenechten will save themselves for a sprint, youngsters Oliver Naesen, Tiesj Benoot and Xandro Meurisse will go on the attack.

Today Lotto Belisol participates in Paris-Tours. It will be the penultimate Europe Tour race for the team this season. The race starts at a quarter past eleven in Bonneval and ends after 237.5 kilometers in Tours. There are three climbs in the final. First of all there is the Côte de Crochu, about 30 kilometers away from the finish line. Twenty kilometers later, the peloton has to cover the Côte de Beau Soleil, followed by the Côte de l’Epan. This is the ultimate chance for the punchers to avoid a bunch sprint. After the final the climb there are five straight kilometers to the finish line on the Avenue de Grammont.
 
Last year’s top three stand at the start: John Degenkolb, Michael Mørkøv and Arnaud Démare. Other participants are Yauheni Hutarovich, Giacomo Nizzolo, Tom Van Asbroeck, Greg Van Avermaet and Sep Vanmarcke. Lotto Belisol has selected among other Jens Debusschere, Jonas Van Genechten and the three trainees Benoot, Meurisse and Naesen.
 
“Arnaud Démare is clearly in shape, he proved that with his performances in the Eurométropole Tour," sports director Bart Leysen said. "At the moment he’s the strongest of the bunch. He is, moreover, national French champion and rides in a French team. He will definitely want to show himself in his home country. FDJ will have to control the race if they want to lead him to the sprint.
 
“We might choose for a late attack. Our youngsters are in a good shape: Benoot, Meurisse and Naesen. They are attackers. In case of a bunch sprint, Jens Debusschere and Jonas Van Genechten will be our guys.”
 
Lotto Belisol selection:

Tiesj Benoot, Jens Debusschere, Kenny Dehaes, Pim Ligthart, Xandro Meurisse, Oliver Naesen, Jonas Van Genechten and Dennis Vanendert.