Remco Evenepoel will race in Belgium for the first time since turning pro at the beginning of the year.
Best young rider of the Vuelta a San Juan, Remco Evenepoel is ready to make his return to competition at this week’s Nokere Koerse (195.6km), after a crash forced him to abandon last month’s UAE Tour while being well-placed in the general classification following the race’s first summit finish. Tour Colombia stage winner Alvaro Hodeg will also be in action at the Belgian one-day race, where the Deceuninck – Quick-Step squad will be rounded out by Rémi Cavagna, Iljo Keisse, Davide Martinelli, Florian Sénéchal and Pieter Serry.
Two days later, Fabio Jakobsen – one of the eight Deceuninck – Quick-Step riders to have put their name on the winners’ list this year – will line out at the start of Bredene Koksijde Classic, replacing Le Samyn champion Sénéchal in the seven-man team that will take on the 197.5km-long race formerly known as Handzame Classic.
“Nokere, with its narrow roads and legendary cobbled uphill finish, was already going to be tough, but the wind and rain can turn it into a race of attrition. In case it comes down to a bunch sprint, Alvaro will rely on Florian and Davide, but we have also other riders who can have a say in the finale depending on how things unfold, like Pieter or young Remco, who we are curious to see how he fares in this type of races”, said sports director Rik Van Slycke.
The former winner of Nokere Koerse will lead the team from the car also on Friday, at the 17th Bredene Koksijde Classic: “This too is going to be a difficult race, with the Kemmelberg as the main climb on the course and the windy roads of De Panne and Koksijde, which could very well lead to some echelons. As always, we will try to be up there, shape the race and hopefully come out of it with a good result.”
Photo credit: ©Sigfrid Eggers
Pieter Serry 