The GP Stad Zottegem is organized since 1934 and received a new name on the occasion of the 85th edition: Egmont Cycling Race (1.1, 17/08). The organization considers the event a a race which has the charme of a kermesse but the style of an international and professional race. Many fast classic riders are on the long palmares. In 2018, Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux won with Jérôme Baugnies, who defeated Aimé De Gendt in a duel. The 193.2 kilometer are composed of a big lap of 82.8 kilometer and six local laps of 18.2 kilometer. After the official start in Oosterzele, the cobbles of the Lange Monte, the Rekelberg, the Berendries, the Klemhoutstraat and the Lippenhovestraat are waiting for the riders. The cobbles of the Lippenhovestraat and the Grotenbergestraat will make the riders suffer on the final circuit. The centre of Zottegem will welcome the winner after 17h.
After his 4th place at the GP Jef Scherens last Sunday, Tom Devriendt is again part of Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matéraux’ line up this Tuesday. The rider from West-Flanders took 5th place in the previous edition. Also Baptiste Planckaert (6th in 2016 and 8th in 2011), Ludwig De Winter (8th in 2014) and Jonas Koch (10th in 2018) finished already in the top 10. The van Poppel brothers will also be at the start in Zottegem, since their last competition Arctic Race of Norway where Danny took 3rd in the second stage. Finally, trainee Dries De Pooter will make his debut for the Belgian team under the sportive direction of Hilaire Van der Schueren.
This Tuesday is another opportunity to discover a new race, because it will be my first participation at the Egmont Cycling Classic. But the roads in this cycling region are not unknown to me. The pace is alway high in this kind of Belgian races, they're always pretty difficult. I'm always looking forward to race them, especially when you're at the start with a strong team! Whether it's a big race or a less famous race, winning is always a big challenge. But that will be our goal this Tuesday!
