JUMBO-VISMA

Country: Netherlands Number of riders: 29 (11 U26; 1 over-35)

Key stat: Jos van Emden is approaching his 17th successive season with the team.

How was the off-season?

Dylan Groenewegen was offloaded to Bikeexchange-jayco in late December, with the team choosing to prioritise GC ambitions over sprinting ability. Seven new faces were brought in, including Rohan Dennis from Ineos Grenadiers, to fill the void left by Tony Martin’s retirement, while 2018 Strade Bianche victor Tiesj Benoot looks like a shrewd addition to the team’s all-round strength.

Biggest challenge?

Finally getting Primož Roglič onto the top step of the Tour de France podium. 2020’s dramatic conclusion is firmly embedded in cycling folklore, but it didn’t unsettle Roglič too much, bouncing back as he did to win two successive Tours of Spain. But Tour pain continued with injury last year, and Roglič and the team are more determined than ever. “It’s the hardest race to win, but we think it’s a wonderful challenge,” team DS Merijn Zeeman said. They want to achieve yellow in conjunction with Wout van Aert targeting stages and the green jersey.

Man on the spot?

This time last year, Tom Dumoulin was midway through an indefinite break from cycling, but this May he makes his Grand Tour return at the Giro d’italia. Does the Dutchman still have the climbing prowess and time trialling superiority to win the maglia rosa for a second time? Having only just turned 31, if the Dutchman proves he does, he could be set for a golden final few years of his career.

Ones to watch

Tobias Foss co-leads the team at the Giro with Dumoulin, while Jonas Vingegaard will be desperate to show that his second place at last year’s Tour was no fluke.