With an American sponsor, the Tour of California now a special position on the Belkin calendar and the team line up a strong roster for one of their most important races. For Laurens Ten Dam, it is his second big objective of the season after the Tour de France while Moreno Hofland will try to take on Peter Sagan and Mark Cavendish in the sprints.

The Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM wants to make its presence felt in the Amgen Tour of California, a home race for the team as Belkin’s headquarters is located in the state. Laurens ten Dam will lead the team in the US stage race.

“This is the Tour de France of the United States and we would like to make our sponsor proud,” says Sports Director Nico Verhoeven. “We’ll try to do what we always do. We aim to ride an attacking and attractive race, and hopefully we can bag some results. We always give 100 per cent, but maybe now, as it’s Belkin’s home race, even just a little more.”

After the race, the team will visit Belkin’s headquarters to get even more #TotallyConnected with the company.

Laurens ten Dam looks forward to the eight-day stage race.

“I’m really glad to ride this race. After the Tour de France, it’s my main goal. I finished sixth once, so that gives me some confidence. As a team, we’d like to give the sponsor a present.”

Ten Dam welcomes the trip to the United States.

“It’s a country I love. After the Amgen Tour of California, I’ll stay for an altitude training camp and some vacation time. I’m going to train my butt off, but I’ll fish as well. I’m even going to visit some national parks.”

Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM’s Moreno Hofland will ride for stage wins.

“Moreno has proven himself in tricky stages, but he’s a good sprinter as well,” said Verhoeven. “Cavendish and Sagan are the men to beat. We’re going to try to do that.”
 

Jack Bobridge, Lars Boom, Laurens ten Dam, Moreno Hofland, Tom Leezer, Nick van der Lijke, Dennis van Winden and Maarten Wynants.