Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux pursues its race calendar on Belgian soil with the Classic Brugge-De Panne (1.UWT, 23/03) this Wednesday. Following a format of a one day race since 2018, the event connects the West-Flemish cities with an entirely flat course, on which the wind is the major obstacle.
The Main Square of Bruges welcomes the start of this 46th edition of 208 kilometer, after which the riders will cross open fields towards coastal city De Panne. The finish line in the Veurnestraat will be crossed for the first time after 72 kilometer, before three local laps of 45 kilometer with a passage through the windy Moeren.
After his twelfth place in Milano – Sanremo, Biniam Girmay, will race on Belgian soil for the first time since his historical silver medal at the U23 World Championships in Leuven last September. He will race alongside several fast riders, who achieved good results the last couple of weeks. Barnabás Peák (2nd in Drenthe) and Gerben Thijssen (4th in the GP Monseré, 5th in Bredene-Koksijde) were part of the early breakaway in Brugge – De Panne last season and Adrien Petit (3rd in Denain). Aimé De Gendt, Julius Johansen and Kévin Van Melsen complete the selection under direction of Steven De Neef and Hilaire Van der Schueren.
« I'm proud that I contributed to the team results the last couple of weeks by racing aggressively in the final. In Nokere and Koksijde, this helped Gerben Thijssen in the context of a bunch sprint and in Drenthe I raced for the victory myself. I hope that the race in De Panne will also be selective, as a sprint with a reduced group is probably the best possible outcome for us. My good performances have a positive influence on my mental fitness so I'm very motivated to accomplish to do my job for the team. I feel very good alongside Gerben Thijssen, I'm convinced that he will reward us often with good results this season. I'm also looking forward to meet Biniam Girmay again, he is always cheerful and humble. Next to his incredible talent, he has a fantastic personality. »
