The 81st edition of the one-day race takes places this Wednesday.
In what will be his first outing since completing the Tour de France – where, at his debut, he scored a stage win – Fabio Jakobsen will lead Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl at the Circuit Franco-Belge. The 175.4km race, where the Dutchman came out victorious last year after another powerful sprint, comes with a more demanding parcours than the one of the previous editions, which should give an opportunity also to the attackers, not just to the fast men.
The most successful sprinter of the season, Fabio will be joined for Wednesday’s race by Iljo Keisse, Pieter Serry, Stijn Steels, Slovakian neo-pro Martin Svrcek, lead-out man Bert Van Lerberghe and neo-pro Ethan Vernon, one of the youngest riders to take a win this year.
“The route is harder than what we had last season, with a local lap that’s obviously more difficult, where you have to be very attentive, as those not wanting a bunch sprint could make their move there. We’ll see how Fabio is after the Tour; the team will work for him and we hope to be there and get a good result”, said Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl sports director Klaas Lodewyck.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
Pieter Serry 
Martin Svrček 