An overview.
First victory Down Under
The first Lotto Belisol rider who could triumph was André Greipel in the fourth stage of the Tour Down Under. Two days later the Gorilla won again, in the final stage. By March, Lotto Belisol had six victories. Kenny Dehaes then added the Tour of Drenthe and Nokere Koerse to the list.
Greipel wins solo
The victory in the World Ports Classic was the first of a series of four for André Greipel. One was remarkable, the one in the final stage of the Tour de Luxembourg where he finished solo. That was the first time ever. Greg Henderson, the lead-out man André Greipel can always rely on, won the third stage of the Ster ZLM Toer.
©Beth Schneider
Two national titles
Lotto Belisol has two national champions in its team. At the end of June André Greipel conquered the German title for the second year in a row. In Belgium it was Jens Debusschere who could go home with the tricolour. Almost a month later he won the opening stage of the Tour de Wallonie. In July Greipel was the best in the sixth Tour stage. In the eleventh one Tony Gallopin stayed ahead of a chasing group. Two days earlier, the Frenchman had worn the yellow jersey on his national holiday.
Victory Eneco Tour
Jonas Van Genechten gathered three UCI victories. Starting with the fourth stage in the Tour de Pologne, a WorldTour race. Between the first two victories of Van Genechten, Tim Wellens won his first race as a pro. Thanks to his victory in the sixth stage of the Eneco Tour Tim took over the leader’s jersey. He held on to it in the final stage.
Hansen celebrates 10th GT with stage win
In the beginning of September André Greipel won the Brussels Cycling Classic, just like in 2013. In the meantime the Vuelta had started. A few days later Lotto Belisol won a stage. For Adam Hansen the Vuelta was the tenth consecutive Grand Tour he finished. He celebrated that by winning the nineteenth Vuelta stage after a short solo.
Sluitingsprijs = 29th victory
Tuesday was the last race day for Lotto Belisol this season. Tosh Van der Sande and Greg Henderson were both close to the stage win in Beijing. A few hours later the team could still add a victory. Just like last year Jens Debusschere won the last race on the Belgian calendar, the Nationale Sluitingsprijs in Putte-Kapellen, the 29th official victory of the season for Lotto Belisol.
Victories 2014
24/01 – Tour Down Under (WorldTour) Stage 4: André Greipel
26/01 – Tour Down Under (WorldTour) Stage 6: André Greipel
13/02 – Tour of Qatar (Asia Tour 2.HC) Stage 5: André Greipel
18/02 – Tour of Oman (Asia Tour 2.HC) Stage 1: André Greipel
20/02 – Tour of Oman (Asia Tour 2.HC) Stage 3: André Greipel
23/02 – Tour of Oman (Asia Tour 2.HC) Stage 6: André Greipel
15/03 – Ronde van Drenthe (Europe Tour 1.1): Kenny Dehaes
19/03 – Nokere Koerse (Europe Tour 1.1.): Kenny Dehaes
24/05 – World Ports Classic (Europe Tour 2.1.) Stage 1: André Greipel
31/05 – Baloise Belgium Tour (Europe Tour 2.HC) Stage 4: André Greipel
05/06 – Tour de Luxembourg (Europe Tour 2.HC) Stage 1: André Greipel
08/06 – Tour de Luxembourg (Europe Tour 2.HC) Stage 4: André Greipel
20/06 – Ster ZLM Toer (Europe Tour 2.1) Stage 3: Greg Henderson
22/06 – Ster ZLM Toer (Europe Tour 2.1) Stage 5: André Greipel
29/06 – Belgisch Kampioenschap (1.1) : Jens Debusschere
29/06 – Duits Kampioenschap (1.1): André Greipel
10/07 – Tour de France (WorldTour) Stage 6: André Greipel
16/07 – Tour de France (WorldTour) Stage 11: Tony Gallopin
26/07 – Tour de Wallonie (Europe Tour 2.HC) Stage 1: Jens Debusschere
06/08 – Ronde van Polen (WorldTour) Stage 4: Jonas Van Genechten
16/08 – Eneco Tour (WorldTour) Stage 6: Tim Wellens
17/08 – Eneco Tour (WorldTour) Overall classification: Tim Wellens
27/08 – Druivenkoers Overijse (Europe Tour 1.1): Jonas Van Genechten
06/09 – Brussels Cycling Classic (Europe Tour 1.HC): André Greipel
07/09 – GP de Fourmies (Europe Tour 1.HC): Jonas Van Genechten
12/09 – Vuelta (WorldTour) Stage 19: Adam Hansen
14/09 – GP Jef Scherens (Europe Tour 1.1): André Greipel
03/10 – Sparkassen Münsterland Giro (Europe Tour 1.1): André Greipel
14/10 – Nationale Sluitingsprijs Putte-Kapellen (Europe Tour 1.1): Jens Debusschere
Kermesses and criteriums
03/06 – Gullegem Koerse: Jonas Van Genechten
03/08 – Sparkassen Giro Bochum: Marcel Sieberg
05/08- Heist-op-den-Berg: Tony Gallopin
23/09 – Vichte: Jens Debusschere
