Tim Merlier will lead the team at the Belgian cobbled classic.
We start the month of April by taking on Dwars door Vlaanderen, the last one-day race before the mythical De Ronde, which gets underway from Roeselare. The menu will consist of ten climbs – including a double ascent of the Côte de Trieu, Berg ten Houte, Hotond, and another double ascent of the Nokereberg (5.7% average gradient) – and seven cobblestone sectors, the most important of which will be the 2400m-long Mariaborrestraat and Herlegemstraat.
Waregem, where Soudal Quick-Step triumphed on six occasions with four different riders, will welcome the peloton after 184 kilometers for the conclusion of this 79th edition. Our team will be present at the start this Wednesday with a seven-man roster comprising Pascal Eenkhoorn, two-time winner Yves Lampaert, Paul Magnier, European Champion and Gent-Wevelgem runner-up Tim Merlier, Casper Pedersen – who pins on a number again after a solid ride in E3 Saxo Classic – Bert Van Lerberghe, and Warre Vangheluwe.
“Dwars door Vlaanderen is not the longest one-day race of the calendar, but it has some really hard parts starting from kilometer 80, climbs coming in quick succession that will really test the riders. We could see a 60-man bunch sprint at the finish, as it has happened in the past, or a small group in the fight for victory. It remains to be seen what scenario we will have, as it usually depends on the weather. We go there with a good team and we hope for a nice result again, just like in the previous races of this spring”, said sports director Iljo Keisse.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
