Looking back on the first year, LottoNL-Jumbo team manager Richard Plugge can not be unhappy, but he has a critical approach. "We also have to be honest.

"After a difficult start we have done some really beautiful things," Plugge told Wielerflits. "From the Giro we have achieved good results. Before that, we have been unlucky and have had illnesses, and we have made mistakes. Tactical mistakes which led to poor results in the spring classics."

In addition, the team has changed things by adding three foreign reinforcements for 2016.

"The idea behind that is that on one hand we want more victories. On the other hand, we want to build on the "second row." We want to avoid a that Kruijswijk was alone in the Giro after Bennett was unable to start [the Kiwi had recorded low cortisol levels in a pre-race test and due to MPCC rules was unable to start]. Primoz Roglic is someone who could play a role there."