Two-time winner of the event Yves Lampaert will be part of a strong team.
The final race before the season’s second Monument, Dwars door Vlaanderen will run its 78th edition this Wednesday, when the riders will line up in Roeselare ready to take on a 188.6km course comprising twelve climbs and several cobblestone sectors.
The last of the race’s many hurdles is the Nokereberg, which has recently witnessed Tim Merlier’s third consecutive victory in Nokere Koerse. From the top, only a couple of kilometers featuring the Herlegemstraat pavé segment remain for the peloton before the finish in Waregem, making it difficult for a regrouping and a reduced bunch sprint to happen, as shown by the recent editions, which have been won solo or from a small group.
Soudal Quick-Step will take on the penultimate cobbled race of the month with a team consisting of double World Champion Julian Alaphilippe, Yves Lampaert – winner here in 2017 and 2018 – Paul Magnier, Gianni Moscon, Casper Pedersen, Pepijn Reinderink, and Warre Vangheluwe.
“We have a strong team for Dwars door Vlaanderen, comprising experienced guys but also young ones. The riders are confident, they are all ready to give their best once again, and hopefully we’ll be in the mix on what will be a hard course, with plenty of hills and cobblestone sectors”, said sports director Wilfried Peeters.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
