Maurits Lammertink will start the 2017 season in Australia. His new employer Katusha-Alpecin will bring the 26-year-old Dutchman to the Tour Down Under (January 17-22). "The stage race has two hilly stage and the that’s why the team has selected me," Lammertink tells  Tubantia .

"I am very happy that I can start in the Tour Down Under," said Lammertink, who was injured several times in 2016. He broke a rib and his arm in the Tour of Switzerland and he finished his season with another rib fracture sustained at Paris-Tours. "This past year I have not done a lot of races and I want to do sowith Katusha."

Lammertink arrives from Roompot Oranje Peloton. Last season he won the Tour of Luxembourg ahead of Philippe Gilbert.