Winner of five races so far this season, Tim Merlier is ready to lead the squad on home turf.
Our team’s next appointments will be on home soil, Sunday and Monday, when we’ll take on two one-day races: the Grand Prix Criquielion and Antwerp Port Epic. The first of these, named in honor of the 1984 World Champion, usually favors the sprinters, but the presence of a 2.2km climb inside 20 kilometers to go could very well give some ideas to the attackers.
Soudal Quick-Step will be at the start of the 205km event with Gil Gelders, Tim Merlier - victorious in three stages at the Tour de Hongrie last week - Martin Svrcek, neo-pro Jonathan Vervenne, and Devo riders Cériel Desal, Joeri Schaper, and Stan Van Tricht.
“The weather will be good for Sunday, maybe too warm for this time of the year, as we’re expecting 30 degrees Celsius. It’s not a complicated course, a mix of big roads and narrow ones, some small climbs, and a cobble sector not far from the finish that we’ll tackle a total of five times. Being so close to the line you never know what can happen if things become hectic there. Normally, despite this, there’s usually a bunch sprint at the finish, and for that reason we’ll have Tim as leader, supported by a very strong squad”, explained sports director Iljo Keisse.
The second race - Antwerp Port Epic - comes with an exciting mix of gravel and cobbles, the perfect terrain for the Classics specialists and those willing to roll the dice and attack from the distance. The many hurdles on the 196.4km course come in quick succession, especially in the final part of the day, making it really hard for those who lost contact to return at the front. Soudal Quick-Step will take on this ninth edition with Cériel Desal, Gil Gelders, Yves Lampaert, Tim Merlier, Martin Svrcek, Stan Van Tricht and Jonathan Vervenne.
“Antwerp Port Epic is a special race with plenty of gravel sectors and cobblestones. The peloton usually splits on this demanding course, leaving small groups fighting for the win. We have a couple of cards to play, riders who are in form and like this type of route, so we’ll start with confidence on Monday”, said sports director Wilfried Peeters.
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