A seven-man squad led from behind the wheel by Brian Holm will participate in the race based on the course used at the 2012 Olympics Games.
The 183km-long RideLondon Classic, now a World Tour event, will kick off from The Mall, take the riders into the Surrey Hills, where the peloton is likely to splinter and attacks to start pour in on the winding, narrow roads and over Leith Hill and Box Hill, and then return to the vibrant capital of the United Kingdon for the now traditional finish in the shadow of the Buckingham Palace, where Tom Boonen powered to victory last year.
Such is the unpredictable nature of the RideLondon Classic, that it can be won from different scenarios: bunch sprint, late attack or small breakaway. That's the reason why Quick-Step Floors – the most successful outfit of the season – is lining out at the start a team capable of being a protagonist regardless of the situation, a team comprising Jack Bauer, Tim Declercq, Iljo Keisse, Yves Lampaert, Maximiliano Richeze, Matteo Trentin and Julien Vermote.
"RideLondon Classic is a really nice race that we are always looking forward to. It is indeed rare that you have a race with such an intensity right in the center of a metropolis as the one of London, and I think it has proven several times to be a 'must watch' race", said Brian Holm. "We know it's going to be difficult to control, we have seen this every year, and that's why it is important to stay in the front and race it from there. We come with a strong team, each rider being capable of making the difference, and we also have a good chance with some fast guys if it ends up in a bunch sprint, so we are looking with confidence to Sunday."
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele
