The Belgian crashed at the
Tour of Flanders and was forced to miss out on the race this year. The team is heading with four leaders into the upcoming edition and the Belgian alongside Nils Politt will be a domestique for the flat and hilly stages. “When I look at the selection of the team for the Grande Boucle, it is obviously a great honor to see myself among those names. But my goal is a little higher than simply being selected: I want to do my job as best as I can for the team as well as possible."
"My task will not be to escort Tadej up to 500 meters from the climb, but I will escort him earlier, in the simpler parts of the race. If there is anyone who can do it, it's Tadej. He has been the best rider in the world for three years and knows how to choose his goals very well. Being part of the team that won the Tour would be a great chapter in my story."
The Belgian has also revealed his schedule which will include the cobbled classics, and also the Criterium du Dauphiné before the Tour de France. Wellens will start his season at the Vuelta a Murcia and stay in Spain for the
Vuelta a Andalucia early onwards, and will also have
Strade Bianche and
Milano-Sanremo in his schedule.