Lotto Soudal: Giro preview with André Greipel and Adam Hansen
Yesterday, Lotto Soudal arrived on Sardinia where the hundredth Giro will start on Friday. Sports director Bart Leysen already looked ahead to the race, today André Greipel and Adam Hansen give their preview.
André Greipel won six Giro stages during his previous four participations. In 2016, he triumphed three times. This edition there are six sprint opportunities.
André Greipel: “I am happy to return to the Giro. A stage victory is the goal again this year. It was a hard spring for me, with a lot of stage races: Abu Dhabi Tour, Paris-Nice, Volta a Catalunya and a few Cobblestone Classics. I took some rest after Paris-Roubaix, to recover physically and mentally. I started training again after one week. Maybe I will need some days to get used to the race rhythm again, like I did last year. The first weekend was not so successful last Giro, but after a few days I got better and better with three stage wins as a result. I wouldn’t say no to wearing the first Maglia Rosa of the 100th Giro. Of course we need to be realistic: winning one stage in a Grand Tour is already a huge performance. We will try to win one stage with the team during the hundredth Giro. My teammates will also have individual chances.”
“If I will complete the Giro? Let’s say the course of the last week doesn’t suit me so well. I love riding the Giro and also the team and the race organisation want me here at the start, but we need to find the right balance in my race programme to achieve our goals. So there is a chance that I quit the Giro before we get to Milan. Of course we prefer participating in such a fantastic race like the Giro to a different programme.”
Adam Hansen is about to start his seventeenth consecutive Grand Tour. In 2013, when he rode his fifth of eight Giros, Adam won the seventh stage.
Adam Hansen: “I have ridden countless Giros, but to me it still feels like I am more excited than any other rider who is standing on the start line. Not only because it is the hundredth Giro, but just because it is the Giro. I feel that I am in the best shape of the last three years. I want to aim for another stage win this edition. The team goal is to take a stage victory with André. For the other stages we have several riders who can join a breakaway and try to win a stage as well. I will be disappointed if I can’t take a stage win or at least if I have not been in the running for one. I really hope André can win a stage. Once you have won one stage with the team, you can look further ahead. I hope our team will animate the race, so we have more chances of winning too.”
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