Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen and Grand Prix Impanis-Van Petegem will provide opportunities to sprinters and Classics specialists.
On Friday, Fernando Gaviria, Iljo Keisse, Marcel Kittel, Nikolas Maes, Davide Martinelli, Fabio Sabatini, František Sisr and Guillaume Van Keirsbulck will race the 101st edition of the Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen, a race which Etixx – Quick-Step won one year ago. The parcours consists of a 12.2-km long flat circuit which will be covered 16 times for a total of 192.4 kilometers and should see the sprinters battle for victory as they continue their road to the World Championships in Doha.
One day later, the peloton will roll out from Brakel for the 19th edition of the Grand Prix Impanis–Van Petegem (200.4 kilometers), a race which puts on the table a different parcours than the one of Friday, with cobbles and short and punchy climbs that can very well split the pack. The weather is also expected to be an important factor, with forecast of heavy rain favouring a solo attacker or a reduced bunch sprint.
Stagiaires Ivan Cortina and Adrien Costa will make their return to the squad after racing Wednesday's Grand Prix de Wallonie, as they'll team up with Fernando Gaviria, Maximiliano Richeze, Fabio Sabatini, Guillaume Van Keirsbulck, Stijn Vandenbergh and Julien Vermote for the final 1.HC Belgian race of the season.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele
