What to expect this year

A mid-season change of sponsorship, for the team formerly known as Rabobank and then Blanco Pro Cycling failed to cause any disruption on the road as the Dutch team enjoyed an impressive degree of success in 2013. The American IT giants certainly got the exposure they were hoping for at the very least, with Bauke Mollema and Laurens Ten Dam hugely impressive at the Tour de France, before the former went on to win a Vuelta a Espana stage too. Robert Gesink also earned success for the team in green, winning the GP de Quebec in September before finishing tenth at Il Lombardia.

Now, with Bianchi confirmed as the team’s new bike sponsor, and the Oltre XR2 at their disposal, the Dutch team will hope for more success next year both at Grand Tour and one-day level. Mollema is the main man to watch, with his Tour de France challenge only fading in the final days last year. His ability on the steepest climbs was called into question at both the Tour and the Vuelta but he is not far off being a serious GC contender. Furthermore, the Dutchman will be keen to improve on his second place at last year’s Tour de Suisse and could be a dark horse for the Ardennes Classics after top tens at both the Amstel Gold Race and La Fleche Wallonne last year. Elsewhere, Sep Vanmarcke proved at Paris-Roubaix he is capable of competing with the big boys, and has done well at E3-Harelbeke before too, but his best chance of a Classics victory may have disappeared when Fabian Cancellara pipped him to the line in Roubaix last year.

Who’s new for 2014?

Nick van der Lijke (NED) from Rabobank Development Team, Barry Markus (NED) from Vacansoleil-DCM, Jonathan Hivert (FRA) from Sojasun.

Who has left?

Mark Renshaw (AUS) to Omega Pharma-Quickstep, Tom-Jelte Slagter (NED) to Garmin-Sharp, Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP) to Caja Rural-Seguros RGA.

Riders to watch

Bauke Mollema – Dutch GC contender represents Belkin’s best chance of Grand Tour success in 2014
Robert Gesink – A strong finish to the year, including success in Canada, points to a potentially successful 2014
Theo Bos – With Mark Renshaw gone, Bos could be given a chance to compete for sprint success, and having won six stages at the season-ending 2.HC-classified Tour of Hainan will be keen to seal a victory on the biggest stage.