ProTeam Lotto Soudal with offensive team to 80th Paris-Nice

Sports director Maxime Monfort discusses the plans of Lotto Soudal during Paris-Nice.

Race 04 March 2022

On Sunday March 6^th, the start of the 80^th Paris-Nice will be given in Mantes-la-Ville. During eight stages, the peloton will travel southwards through France, offering opportunities to sprinters, punchers, time trialists and climbers. The traditional closing stage including the famous Col d’Eze will once again provide the apotheosis of a jubilee edition of Paris-Nice.

Lotto Soudal will head to Paris-Nice with a mix of offensive riders and climbers. For Steff Cras, Sébastien Grignard and Matthew Holmes, it will be a first introduction to the Race to the Sun, while Frederik Frison will be at the start of the French WorldTour stage race for the second time in his career. Thomas De Gendt already won two stages in Paris-Nice and Philippe Gilbert prepares for a 14^th participation. Despite bad luck in the time trial, Harm Vanhoucke finished eleventh on the Paris-Nice GC last year. The 24-year-old Belgian will be back this year. Sports director Maxime Monfort discusses the plans of Lotto Soudal during Paris-Nice.

Maxime Monfort: “For several years, Paris-Nice hasn’t been the race it used to be in the past. It’s not about preparation for the upcoming races anymore and also for Lotto Soudal, it is an important appointment on the race calendar. We are at the start with a team of climbers and stage hunters. With a varied course, the 80^th edition of Paris-Nice is again a mini version of the Tour de France. The first stage is immediately a tough one around Paris, perfect for punchers, attackers or strong sprinters. This is followed by two stages with possible echelons or sprint chances. After a short, explosive time trial on Wednesday, the peloton arrives in the Massif Central for a day full of hills. On Friday, there’s a stage suited to breakaway riders and the bunch is again in for a tough closing weekend with the Col du Turini on Saturday and the traditional final stage at the Côte d’Azur on Sunday.”

“Since we don’t have a sprinter on board, we’ll have to go in full attack mode. That is why our selection mostly includes riders who can animate the race almost every day. I’m thinking about Philippe Gilbert, Thomas De Gendt, Matthew Holmes but also Sébastien Grignard and Frederik Frison. Last year, Harm finished just outside the top ten of the general classification but without that puncture in the TT, it would have been a top ten result. Last weekend in the Ardèche, he has shown his good shape so he can again aspire a good classification this year. Steff Cras also showed his fine form at the Ruta del Sol, amongst others. So we will give Harm and Steff all the freedom and support to target a nice final result. When will Paris-Nice be a success for us? Of course a stage win would be great, but first and foremost I want to see a motivated group that tries to race offensively every day and does everything they can to get a victory”, Maxime Monfort concludes.