Visma | Lease a Bike has completed the Amstel Gold Race puzzle: one Dutchman, two leaders and no Van Baarle

Visma | Lease a Bike has managed to finalize their (once again imperfect) team for the Amstel Gold Race. Notably, Wout van Aert, Dylan van Baarle and Christophe Laporte will not be participating on behalf of the Dutch squad, which will rely on the talents of Tiesj Benoot and Matteo Jorgenson for this race on home turf.

"Coming Sunday, as a Dutch team, we want to make our mark in a classic on our own turf, supported by the Limburg audience," says former winner and current team director Frans Maassen. "In 2021, we managed to win with Wout. This year, the Amstel Gold Race was once again marked in red on his calendar. He was highly motivated to secure a second victory here. Due to well-known reasons, we cannot call on him. Lately, there has been much talk about the crashes and the ensuing disappointments we experienced. But I saw a highly resilient team that continued to fight on all fronts. That's what it's really about: falling and getting back up," Maassen praises his men.

This coming Sunday will be similar: Laporte will replace Van Aert in the Giro and has already ended his spring season, and Van Baarle will also be absent in his home country. Earlier, Bart Lemmen and Wilco Kelderman had to withdraw due to a broken collarbone. Consequently, the team had to call upon Belgians Tosh Van der Sande and Julien Vermote, as well as young Norwegians Per Strand Hagenes and Johannes Staune-Mittet. Milan Vader is the only Dutchman in the seven-member selection.

"Tiesj has already proven earlier this spring that he has good legs. Both in Dwars door Vlaanderen and in the Tour of Flanders, he showcased his form. This Sunday, he will have another opportunity to demonstrate his abilities. We also have a significant asset in Matteo. So far, he has been one of the revelations of the spring with his victories in Paris-Nice and Dwars door Vlaanderen. After a tough Tour of Flanders, he wasn't quite fit for Paris-Roubaix, but he has since recovered. The course this Sunday should definitely suit him," says Maassen about the two leaders.

Selection Visma | Lease a Bike Amstel Gold Race 2024

Tiesj Benoot
Matteo Jorgenson
Julien Vermote
Tosh Van der Sande
Johannes Staune-Mittet
Per Strand Hagenes
Milan Vader