The season's 31st World Tour event will take place this Sunday, in Germany.
A bunch sprint? A reduced one? Or a solo attacker making it all the way to the line? All these scenarios are likely in the EuroEyes Cyclassics, which this year runs its 22nd edition. Starting and finishing in Hamburg, and held over a distance of 220.9 kilometers, the race will see the peloton tackle the famous Waseberg climb (700 meters, 10% average gradient) on several occasions, thus giving the riders keen on avoiding a bunch gallop the perfect opportunity to spread chaos in the peloton and foil the sprinters' plans.
World Tour leader Quick-Step Floors – who boasts two victories in the EuroEyes Cyclassics since its inception – will come to the start of Sunday's race with a very strong and experienced outfit, capable of being in the thick of the action regardless of the scenario and fighting for a top result on the renowned Mönckebergstraße.
Marcel Kittel, who sits at the top of the wins classification this season, is ready to take on his home event, which last year he was on track of winning, only for an untimely puncture to take him out of contention with one kilometer to go. The 29-year-old German, victorious in 14 races this season, will be joined by New Zealand ITT Champion Jack Bauer, Rémi Cavagna, Dries Devenyns, Iljo Keisse, Maximiliano Richeze, Fabio Sabatini and Petr Vakoč.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele
