Tour_de_France_logoDutch cycling team Lotto NL are betting on rookie sprinter Dylan Groenewegen on the 2016 Tour de France after Robert Gesink was involved in a heavy fall last week.

Senior rider Gesink has failed to get over his tumble in the Tour of Switzerland, Lotto NL said Wednesday, and have named the 23-year-old Dutchman Groenewegen in his place.

“This will be good for his development, although we hadn’t been considering giving him his Tour debut just yet,” said team manager Nico Verhoeven.

“We’d like to win a stage on this tour however,” said Verhoeven, who hinted his strongest chance of that might be climber Wilco Kelderman.

Lotto NL for the Tour de France

George Bennett (NZL), Dylan Groenewegen (NED), Wilco Kelderman (NED), Bert-Jan Lindeman (NED), Paul Martens (GER), Timo Roosen (NED), Sep Vanmarcke (BEL), Robert Wagner (GER), Maarten Wynants (BEL)

Agence France-Presse

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