Thursday brings our first one-day race of the season.
Last year, the inaugural edition of the Surf Coast Classic came down to a bunch sprint, and there’s a fair chance of this happening again, although there will be plenty of riders hoping for a different outcome. After tackling a 10km climb right after the start, the bunch will take on the rolling roads of the Surf Coast Shire before heading inland and returning close to the ocean for the finish in Torquay.
The small hills in the final kilometers could be used as a launch pad by those who will look to ruin the fast men’s plans, but the sprinters and their teams should have the upper hand on the roads of the town sitting not far from Geelong, the host of the 2010 World Championships.
Soudal Quick-Step will be at the start of the 157km-long Surf Coast Classic with the same seven-man team that recently concluded the Tour Down Under, consisting of Pascal Eenkhoorn, Antoine Huby, James Knox, Junior Lecerf, Casper Pedersen, neo-pro Andrea Raccagni and Pieter Serry.
“The first part of the race could have some strong winds, on top of that long climb, so it will be interesting to see what happens there. We know that we don’t have the fastest guy in the bunch here, but the mood in the team is good and the guys are motivated after a strong Down Under, so we look forward to Thursday”, said sports director Geert Van Bondt.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
