Paul Magnier, Jasper Stuyven, and Dylan van Baarle are set to ride both races, on Saturday and Sunday.
One of the best weekends of the year is almost here, the weekend we’ll kick off our 24th consecutive Spring Classics campaign. On the menu, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne – two one-day races that our team has won a combined total of 13 times and where we’ll aim to be again among the main protagonists.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad – who will be ten kilometers longer than last year – comes with a revamped run-in to the finish. After the start in Gent, the riders will take on a total of eight cobblestone sectors and twelve hills. Of these, the ones that catch everyone’s attention are Tenbosse and Parikeberg, which were added to the route inside the last 40 kilometers to bring some extra challenges, and of course, the famous Muur-Kapelmuur – Bosberg combo, coming in the final part of the race.
Runner-up last year at his debut here, Paul Magnier returns at the start. The Frenchman has won two stages and the points jersey last week at the Volta ao Algarve, and will hope to be in the mix also on the Belgian cobbles. Magnier will be joined at the start by Yves Lampaert, Casper Pedersen, Pepijn Reinderink, Jasper Stuyven – a winner of the race in 2020 – Dylan van Baarle, who triumphed here three years ago, and Dries Van Gestel.
Omloop is always special, because it’s the first cobblestone race of the season.
“It will be a nervous race, but at the same time, an exciting one. We have a strong team and we are curious to see how the dynamic will work with the new guys in the squad. Anything can happen in a race like this, but we are confident in our chances and motivated to play the cards we have on Saturday”, said sports director Tom Steels.
Twenty-four hours later, Paul, Jasper – who was victorious at this race exactly one decade ago – and Dylan will be in action at the 194.9km Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, where Soudal Quick-Step’s roster is set to include also Devo Team rider Cerial Desal, Laurenz Rex – making his first appearance since the AlUla Tour injury at the end of January – Bert Van Lerberghe and neo-pro Jonathan Vervenne.
“We have several riders who will do the double this weekend, which means we’ll see Paul, Jasper and Dylan also in Kuurne. The course is a demanding one, with many climbs and narrow roads, and even though the final part is a flat one, it’s not sure there will be a bunch sprint. I’d say the chances of having one to decide the winner are fifty-fifty, so the attackers also have their opportunities, especially as there will be some wind that could make a selection. We’ll try to be in the finale with Paul, who’ll rely on a strong team to support him there”, said sports director Iljo Keisse.
Photo credit: ©Wout Beel
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