Because of the change of date from September to June for the Brussels Cycling Classic, a long weekend of racing awaits Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux in Belgium. Fourteen riders will represent the World Team during this Pentecost weekend in the Heistse Pijl on Saturday, the Brussels Cycling Classic on Sunday and the Ronde van Limburg on Monday.
Last year, the Brussels Cycling Classic (1.Pro) added a couple of important Flemish hills to its parcours. Also this 102nd edition covers the Muur van Geraardsbergen, the Bosberg and the Congoberg twice in the beginning of the second race half. It was in this hill zone that Aimé De Gendt followed a select group in the previous edition, finishing second to Remco Evenepoel in the Houba de Strooperlaan after a little more than 200 kilometer.
In the preceding editions, which were ridden on a course suited for sprinters, Alexander Kristoff finished in the top 15 each time he participated, with a fourth place as reference. The Norwegian rider returns to Belgium since his success in the Scheldeprijs, alongside Dimitri Claeys, Aimé De Gendt, Quinten Hermans, Adrien Petit, Taco van der Hoorn and Loïc Vliegen.
« It just finished the Tour of Italy which was nice in every way. Last month I discovered the country, as I didn’t really race often in this country before this Giro. I returned home from Verona on Tuesday and followed my feeling to dictate my training rhythm in the next days. I accomplished rides up to 3.5 hours and I can’t wait to race on my favorite hills again this Sunday, in my first race on Belgian soil since the Scheldeprijs in the beginning of April. After finishing my first Tour de France I waited more than two weeks to return into competition, so I’m curious to know how my body will react this time. » « Last season, the Brussels Classic was organized two days after the Druivenkoers, in which I joined Remco Evenepoel a first time on the podium. He performed well there so it was no surprise when he attacked on the Muur van Geraardsbergen, I knew I had to follow him if I wanted to battle for the victory. The Muur will definitely again cause a selection this Sunday. The climb is succeeded by the Bosberg and the Congoberg so there is no doubt about that. But as it it still 45 kilometer to the finish, all teams will check after the hill zone whether they have the right rider in front or not. For our team, different scenarios can lead to success. A hard race is what we’re hoping for, because even when the race is decided in a sprint afterwards, it plays into the hands of Alexander Kristoff. »
