Tim Merlier will lead the line for our squad on Monday.
Antwerp Port Epic once again promises to be a spectacular and attritional race, thanks to its numerous cobblestone sectors and dirt farm tracks that come in quick succession from the moment the peloton will leave behind Schengen Square and take on this demanding 182.2km route.
Our team, who recently won Heistse Pijl, will be present at the start of the Belgian one-day race for the first time, determined to play a prominent role and be in the mix for a strong result. European Champion Tim Merlier – the most successful sprinter of the season so far – headlines Soudal Quick-Step’s seven-man team for Monday, when he’ll be joined by Gil Gelders, Antoine Huby, Yves Lampaert – who recently finished runner-up at Gullegem Koerse – Luke Lamperti, Martin Svrcek and Dries Van Gestel.
“The cobbles, the dirt paths and the narrow roads will all make for a hard race which requires skill, resilience and raw power. We’re coming at the start with a highly motivated team, built for this challenge. Riders like Tim and Yves bring a lot of strength and experience, but also the other guys have what it takes to be involved in the important moves of the day. We aren’t afraid of taking on a tough race, on the contrary, we go there with a lot of determination to show what we are capable of and fight for a good result”, said sports director Kevin Hulsmans.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
