Dutch Pro Continental outfit Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij has only been on the scene since 2015 but in two short seasons, the `orange` team has enjoyed numerous wins while also sending talented riders into the WorldTour. The team made its Australian racing debut at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, and Herald Sun Tour at the start of the season. In the team car for the races was Jean-Paul van Poppel, a man well acquainted with Australian racing as a rider and director. Van Poppel believes starting the year in Australia is `perfect` for his riders, and he hopes to add the Tour Down Under to the schedule in 2018.ADVERTISEMENT `First of all, I think Australia is a big opportunity for racing because the level is always pretty high at the start of the season,` he told Cyclingnews. `What we look for is high-level races, and also, it is a fantastic country in which to race. There are a lot of reasons to come here. `It would be good if we had more races here and even stay here a little bit longer. Actually, it is pretty short and we would love to come a bit earlier or later and do more races,` he said. `We are not invited to the Tour Down Under. It could be a dream for us to go there and right after that, do the Cadel Evans race again and Sun Tour. `Then see if we can maybe bring two more stronger riders like Pieter Weening. He raced with Orica for years and we also have Pim Ligthart. For sure, next year we will have some more surprises and we can bring a mix of very young good talents, and riders who are already there and can make the effort and result.`
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