Toon Aerts, Arnaud De Lie, Simone Gualdi, Milan Menten, Lorenzo Rota, Jonas Rutsch, Joshua Giddings and Lennert Van Eetvelt. These are the eight riders of Lotto Intermarché who will line up in Bulgaria on Friday for the 108th Giro d'Italia. Together, they form a balanced team of sprinters, climbers and domestiques capable of performing at their best on any terrain. It is the ideal puzzle for Lotto, which returns to the Giro d'Italia after four years of absence. Intermarché, on the other hand, participated in last year's edition.

With Toon Aerts and Simone Gualdi, Lotto-Intermarché has selected two debutants in a Grand Tour. Aerts will race for three weeks at the highest level for the first time in his career. For Gualdi, the participation has an even greater significance, as the young Italian – just 21 years old – will start his first Grand Tour in his home country. "It means a lot to me to be at the start of the Giro d'Italia. It's a race I've dreamed about since I started cycling – he explains –. I've prepared very well and my fifth place at Eschborn-Frankfurt confirmed that I'm in good shape. It's my first stage race of this length, so we'll mainly see what the second half of the Giro has in store for us. The fact that my family will come to visit me during that period motivates me even more. I can't wait to discover what I can do and what we can demonstrate as a team".

With Lorenzo Rota, the team can also count on another Italian rider with great experience. Arnaud De Lie will be the reference point in the sprinters' stages, while Lennert Van Eetvelt will focus on the climbs. De Lie will be supported by Milan Menten and Joshua Giddings, riders who have already demonstrated their strength on various terrains and in different race situations. The same applies to Jonas Rutsch. Van Eetvelt, for his part, will be able to count on Lorenzo Rota and Simone Gualdi as valid allies in the mountains. Lotto-Intermarché arrives at the start with a motivated and versatile team.

"With this selection, we bring a balanced team to the Giro d'Italia – says sports director Kurt Van de Wouwer –. We have a clear strategy for the sprints with Arnaud, but at the same time we want to give the other riders the freedom to seize their opportunities. For Toon and Simone, this is an important step in their development. A first Grand Tour is always special and we will support them as much as possible throughout the race".

Liam Slock, who was initially supposed to participate in the Giro d'Italia as well, unfortunately was unable to reach Bulgaria. He fell ill after the Lotto Famenne Classic and was replaced by Joshua Giddings.