Controversial Dutch team selection for World Championship road race 2015
22nd August 2015
There's controversy in the Netherlands over the riders selected
for the Dutch national team to take part in the World Championship road
race on 27th September 2015, in Richmond, Virginia, USA. Star riders
Robert Gesink and Bauke
Mollema, who finished 6th and 7th respectively in the Tour de France
2015, have made the team, but have been chosen as domestiques not
protected riders, reports
NOS.nl. Koen de Kort has been left out.
The Dutch coach Johan Lammerts has made Niki Terpstra team leader. On the subject of Gesink and Mollema riding as domestiques, he said, 'They are going to do a job for the team. Are they capable of doing that? Of course. They've done it in the past, at the start of their careers, so I have every confidence that they will do it.'
De Kort is only a reserve. He is taking part in the Vuelta a Espana, which he intended as a preparation race for the World Champs. He said, 'I'm very disappointed not to be in the first nine selected, but if I'm called upon, I'll be ready to contribute.'
De Kort was also quoted as saying, 'I'm amazed. In my opinion, I've ridden very well on similar courses this year, with the leader of my team winning twice [Degenkolb at Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix]. I rode better than ever in the Classics, and I think I was always amongst the best nine Dutchmen in those races.'
To say I'm disappointed
not to be in Richmond is an understatement. What do I need to do to
show that I can make a leader get a top result?
— Koen de Kort (@koendekort) August
20, 2015
Asked if Astana rider Lars Boom, plus Sebastian Langeveld and Tom Dumoulin, will be prepared to ride for Terpstra, Lammerts said, 'Boom and Dumoulin? They are protected riders. They will have opportunities, but we have to wait and see how the race turns out.'