Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team has announced the selection that will participate in Dwars door Vlaanderen, a 201km race which takes place on Wednesday, March 20th. The route includes 13 climbs: Nieuwe Kwaremont, Kattenberg, Leberg, Berendries, Valkenberg, Eikenberg, Steenbeekdries, Knokteberg, Oude-Kwaremont, Paterberg, Vossenhol, Holstraat and Nokereberg. OPQS rider Niki Terpstra won the 2012 edition of the race, and will be racing it again in 2013.
"Only Niki Terpstra and Stijn Vandenbergh rode Milano - Sanremo, so the other riders at this race will be fresh," Sport Director Wilfried Peeters said. "As a precautionary measure Sylvain Chavanel won't take the start because of a cold due to the extreme weather conditions last Sunday at Milano - Sanremo. Sylvain will be at the start of E3 Prijs Harelbeke on Friday. Gert Steegmans will be at the start after dealing with some soreness problems on his knee. As usual the crucial points of the race will be the Paterberg and the Oude-Kwaremont. However, another key factor will be the weather. They forecasted 6 degrees and rain, so it will be a completely different race than the sunny weather of last year."
"I won last year, which was great," Terpstra said. "I will try again, and it will be special also to be at the start with the Dutch Champion jersey and the race number one. I think it will be emotional for me at the start. The weather will probably be different than last year, but still shouldn't be a problem. I don't like snow, but have no problem with rain (laughs)."