Olympic preparations pass through Valkenswaard

Riders will be using the upcoming Longines Global Champions Tour in Valkenswaard as a warm-up for this summer’s Rio Olympic Games.
A total of 25 riders set for the Olympic Games in Brazil will be competing at the Dutch leg of the tour including the entire Germany team of Christian Ahlmann, Ludger Beerbaum, Daniel Deusser, Marcus Ehning and the reserve Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum.
For many, Valkenswaard will be the last big event before heading to Brazil and so expect the Dutch riders Harrie Smolders, Jeroen Dubbeldam, Maikel van der Vleuten and Gerco Schroder to be firing on all cylinders in an effort to head into the games on a high.
Also taking part is Edwina Tops-Alexander and the Australian leads the overall charts on 234 points. She will be aiming to increase the gap at the top over second ranked Christian Ahlmann. Other big names include USA’s McLain Ward (currently ranked 3rd in the world rankings), Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts, Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano and Olympic Champion Steve Guerdat of Switzerland.
photo: Stefano Grasso / LGCT
www.globalchampionstour.com