Bauke Mollema will make his return to competitive action when the Ruta del Sol kicks off tomorrow. His Belkin team lines up with modest ambitions and will mostly use the race to prepare for later objectives.

The Belkin Pro Cycling Team wants to perform strongly at WorldTour level events in 2014. Robert Gesink’s sixth place in the Tour Down Under started the year well. The team hopes to keep rolling through the classics in the same way or better, and the February races like the Ruta del Sol this week help ready its riders. 

“But that doesn’t mean we don’t want to show ourselves in Spain. We’ll start the race with a very strong team,” said Sports Director Merijn Zeeman. 

“Last year, we won nine races in February. Those were very nice but in the months after, the results were not as good as we hoped. This year our main goal is to do well in WorldTour races and therefore it’s important that we help the riders reach a higher level now. We also want the riders to get totally connected again so we can perform at our best in March and April.” 
 

The Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM takes the Ruta del Sol, February 19 to 23, seriously and goes with specific ambitions.

 “We hope to take a stage win,” said Zeeman. “We have several riders who can do something special.” 
 

Jonathan Hivert could deliver something special. The Frenchman won two stages in last year when racing with his former team Sojasun. 

“But last year, I already had two races in my legs," Hivert said modestly. “My main goal in Spain is to help the team. I’m proud that I can finally wear the Belkin’s green and black kit in a race. I have had some good training camps and I look forward to the season beginning.” 

The race also marks the return to competitive action for Laurens ten Dam, Bauke Mollema, and Lars Petter Nordhaug who are well-suited to the hilly course in Southern Spain. Moreno Hofland may give it a go in some of the sprint stages at the end of the race.
 

Belkin for the Ruta del Sol

Laurens ten Dam, Jonathan Hivert, Moreno Hofland, Nick van der Lijke, Bauke Mollema, Lars Petter Nordhaug and Dennis van Winden.