Belgian cycling team Lotto-Belisol is looking for some new talent. The team currently has 28 riders, but there is room for 2 more. These riders must be 23 years or younger, and they will get some chances this season. The riders will get a great rookie season with the help of experienced riders, and we hope they'll be ready for the real deal in the second season. Interested? Let us know!

The first set of wildcards for the Continental races were handed out today, and Lotto-Belisol got al 5 of the applied wildcards. The team will be present in the 5 continental races in Belgium (Omloop het Nieuwsblad, Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, Nokere-Koerse, Dwars Door Vlaanderen and Driedaagse De Panne - Koksijde). The team has applied for 3 more wildcards (Clasica Almeria, GP Indurain, Volta Limburg Classic), which are yet to be handed out.

Lotto-Belisol is glad to announce that Dutchman Pieter de Vries has signed for the team. The 18-year old time-trialist has signed for 1 year, with the option for even more years. We think he has the potential to become a future great!

We were also trying to sign Thomas Peeters, but he decided to go to Europcar instead. We wish him the best of luck there.

Today was a very good day for Lotto-Belisol. Firstly, the news spread that Alex Fischer has signed a contract with the team. The Danish puncheur will be our last signing this year, because we reached the 30-rider limit.

Earlier today, the second round of wildcards was finished. Lotto-Belisol will participate in 3 more races (Clasica Almeria, GP Indurain and Volta Limburg Classic). We are not going to ask for more CT-races for the first part of the season,

Our first race of the season, the Tour Down Under in Australia, is nearby, and everybody in the team (managers, riders, mechanics etc.) is preparing for it. But somewhere, inside a cold, dark room, a few people are working on the planning for the season. The only thing which is sure now, is the startlist for the TDU:

Sander Cordeel
Adam Hansen
Greg Henderson
Fréderique Robert
Dennis Vanendert
Jelle Vanendert
Tim Wellens

Our sponsor wants us top get a top-10 in the GC. We have therefore selected Jelle Vanendert as our leader. We are also focussing on the sprints with Kiwi Greg Henderson. Adam Hansen will ride is home-race here, and he will get a free-role.

We are almost done with the planning. The big lines are finished, and the final touches are being made. However, we can say 100% sure that the schedules for the first part of the season are finished. We've decided to release the schedules of our 2 teenagers, Alex Fischer and Pieter de Vries.

Alex Fischer:

Clasica de Almeria
Paris - Nice
Volta a Catalunya
GP Indurain

Alex's first part takes place mainly in Spain. His first race is the Clasica de Almeria. Afterwards, he heads to France to makes his WT-debut in the Paris-Nice stage race. He goes back to Spain to ride in the Volta a Catalunya and the GP Indurain.

Pieter de Vries:

Tirreno - Adriatico
Volta Limburg Classic

Pieter will take it easy. He will only ride 2 races, the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race in Italy and the Volta Limburg Classic, a one-day classic in his home nation.

We are almost, almost done with the planning, but then a discussion about who should lead us at the Tour started. Both Andre Greipel and Jurgen van den Broeck want leadership there, but we don't think a co-leadership is such a good idea. So, we have 4 options:

1 Greipel will lead, with team focussed on sprints
2 vd Broeck will lead, with team focussed on mountains
3 Greipel will lead, with vd Broeck as free-element
4 vd Broeck will lead, with Greipel as free-element

Which one will it be?

So, our first race of the season in underway, the Tour Down Under! The first stage was raced today, but was married by a big crash in the final 3 kilometers. It involved a lot of riders, including Robert, Hansen and Wellens. The last 2 abandoned, which is a shame. Arnaud Demare is today's winner (see picture). Greg Henderson sprinted to a 15th place, which is not what we had hoped for. But, there are still 5 days left!



Stage:

Rank	Name	Team	Time
1	Arnaud Demare	FDJ.fr	3h06'34
2	Jorge Cristobal Riquelme	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	s.t.
3	Alexander Kristoff	Katusha Team	s.t.
4	Gianni Meersman	Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team	s.t.
5	Michael Matthews	Orica - GreenEdge	s.t.
15	Greg Henderson	Lotto Belisol	s.t.
34	Jelle Vanendert	Lotto Belisol	s.t.
38	Sander Cordeel	Lotto Belisol	s.t.
113	Dennis Vanendert	Lotto Belisol	s.t.
162	Frederique Robert	Lotto Belisol	+ 4'47
DNF	Adam Hansen	Lotto Belisol	DNF
DNF	Tim Wellens	Lotto Belisol	DNF

GC:

Rank	Name	Team	Time
1	Arnaud Demare	FDJ.fr	3h06'24
2	Jorge Cristobal Riquelme	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	+ 4
3	Alexander Kristoff	Katusha Team	+ 6
4	Gianni Meersman	Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team	+ 10
5	Michael Matthews	Orica - GreenEdge	s.t.
15	Greg Henderson	Lotto Belisol	s.t.
34	Jelle Vanendert	Lotto Belisol	s.t.
38	Sander Cordeel	Lotto Belisol	s.t.
113	Dennis Vanendert	Lotto Belisol	s.t.
162	Frederique Robert	Lotto Belisol	+ 4'57

Points:

Rank	Name	Team	Points
1	Wesley Kreder	Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team	16

Mountains:

Rank	Name	Team	Points
1	Zico Waeytens	Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise	10

-25:

Rank	Name	Team	Time
1	Arnaud Demare	FDJ.fr	3h06'24
43	Dennis Vanendert	Lotto Belisol	+ 10
60	Frederique Robert	Lotto Belisol	+ 4'57

Teams:

Rank	Team	Time
1	Sky Procycling	9h19'42
7	Lotto Belisol	s.t.