Our squad returns at the start of a race that we won a total of eight times.
One of the best and most prestigious cobbled Classics on the calendar, E3 Saxo Classic is scheduled this Friday, when the peloton will tackle a selective 208.5km parcours featuring 17 bergs. The Belgian one-day race already was one of the hardest events of the spring, but this year has been made tougher by the addition of an extra ascent of the famous Oude Kwaremont.
After what should be a quiet first part, things are expected to heat up in the last 100 kilometers, which contain many important pressure points, not just the double ascent of Oude Kwaremont, a hill lasting a relentless 2200 meters. Taaienberg, Boigneberg, Kapelberg, Paterberg and Tiegemberg - all squeezed within the final 70 kilometers - are sure to give plenty of opportunities to those hoping to make the difference before the finish in Harelbeke, where a large group hasn’t contested the victory in the last 14 years.
Runner-up here two years ago, Jasper Stuyven returns at the start of the World Tour Classic after a solid outing in Milano-Sanremo, where he finished seventh. Joining him on the Soudal Quick-Step team for this 68th edition will be Casper Pedersen, Pepijn Reinderink, Dylan van Baarle, Dries Van Gestel, Warre Vangheluwe, and neo-pro Jonathan Vervenne.
The course has changed a bit and it will be interesting to see how things will look now with the double ascent of the Kwaremont.
“Aside from that, there are also some intermediate parts where the race could kick off or restart. We have a strong team, with Jasper and Dylan as our leaders; Pepijn comes after a good Milano-Sanremo, while Casper showed last year how strong he is. Jonathan and Warre can provide some solid support, and Dries can be a good lieutenant for our guys in the final part of the race. We’ll see how it develops, but one thing that is certain is that we will do our best to get a strong result”, said sports director Tom Steels.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
