Ethan Hayter and Tim Merlier will both be in action for the Wolfpack this week.
The best and most successful sprinter of the season, Tim Merlier will pin a number one more time this year before bringing to a conclusion another successful campaign in the Soudal Quick-Step jersey, at the Tour of Holland. The Belgian, victorious in 15 races since the end of January, will be joined by Ayco Bastiaens, British ITT Champion Ethan Hayter – a podium finisher earlier this season at the Tour of Belgium – Yves Lampaert, Pepijn Reinderink and Bert Van Lerberghe.
A short evening prologue which will establish an initial pecking order, a 15km individual time trial on Thursday, two days for the sprinters, another one with lots of climbing where the peloton will tackle the legendary Cauberg, and an uphill finish on the VAM-Berg – which should be decisive in the final outcome – will be the six stages making up the event that gets underway on Tuesday.
“We look forward to this new stage race, which is a bit atypical. There’s a bit of everything, from almost 20 kilometers of time trial and the VAM-Berg to opportunities for the sprinters and even some gravel, which will sure make for an exciting week. We have a good team, who can be in the mix on the flat with Tim, but also Ethan, Yves and Pepijn can do something nice on this terrain. That being said, the confidence is there in our chances of leaving our mark on the Tour of Holland”, said Soudal Quick-Step sports director Tom Steels.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
