Lotto Soudal has responded to the desire of Maxime Monfort to ride the Giro. The decision is that he does not do the Ardennes classics. "Some fans will be disappointed," he realized.

The Giro was not initially foreseen in the program of Monfort, but the 32-year-old would like to be on the Italian roads from 9 to 31 May.

"This does not affect my chances to participate in the Tour. The team also supports me in this decision," Monfort says on his website.

All this will change in the coming weeks it: he no longer rides on his home roads in the Ardennes at Amstel Gold Race (19 April), La Fleche Wallonne (April 22) and Liège-Bastogne-Liège (April 26).

"As expected, I join in the Basque Country, but then I do the Tour of Romandie in place of the Ardennes classics. I know that some fans will be disappointed, but it is the right decision."