On May 4, the Louvaniste will depart from Venaria Reale for the first stage towards Turin. He will be “a key rider to support Jonathan Milan and the team“, explained athletic director Gregory Rast. “He was in great shape at the time of his fall. The time to reach this level for the Giro was minimal, but both the team and Jasper were very motivated to get it at the start“, he continued.
The Lidl-Trek team arrives at the Tour of Italy with the intention of competing for stage victories. She therefore preferred to surround her strong sprinter, the Italian Milan, than her Spanish climber Juanpe Lopez. For Stuyven, in a supporting role, “the first week could be useful in regaining the confidence he has lost. He will then be able to take his chance, and contribute to the train for Jonathan Milan.“
This train will be made up mainly of Edward Theuns and the Italian Simone Consonni. “This is the train that worked well in the first part of the season. The experience of both riders will be crucial for Milan.“
In addition to Stuyven, Theuns, Milan, Consonni and Lopez, Lidl-Trek will take the Italian Andrea Bagioli, the Dutchman Daan Hoole and the Eritrean Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier
