EF Education-EasyPost reveals selections and ambitions for Opening Weekend
Cycling
In recent years, EF Education-EasyPost has made a habit of announcing its selections for major races as late as possible. However, in 2025, the American team has decided to do things differently. On Monday, the pink team was the first to announce its selections for the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne in a press release.
Jonathan Vaughters' team counts on several key players in the opening weekend. New signing Kasper Asgreen, a former winner of the Tour of Flanders, E3 Saxo Classic, and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, will be riding his first Flemish races for his new team. Newcomers Vincenzo Albanese and Madis Mikhels—whom we spoke to during the Tour of the Algarve—will join the team, as will Dutch rider Marijn van den Berg.
Mikkel Honoré and Michael Valgren are the other two Danes on the team besides Asgreen, and Brit Ouwain Doull completes the team. "You just feel all the history that is here in Flanders, all of the traditions of the races," Asgreen explained in the team's press release. "You watched the races on television when you were a kid, saw all the people who were once your idols racing up those climbs, and now you're racing up them yourself. For me, that is still something special. The fans in Belgium just love racing."
"That is the way I like to race," continues Asgreen, who replaces Alberto Bettiol, who is now riding for XDS-Astana as the leader of EF Education-EasyPost this spring. "For Opening Weekend, challenging for the victory should be the goal. We've got several chances. Valgren, Honoré, Albanese, and I can attack, and then we have got two fast guys in the lineup with Marijn and Madis to cover behind. It is always good to have multiple opportunities in these races."
Read more below the photo!
Mikhels awaits sprint in Opening weekend
Mikhels thinks the same. "It is always exciting racing in Belgium, especially with all the fans," Madis says. "They are so passionate. The noise that the fans make on the climbs feels so special. The style of racing here suits me well. Personally, I am hoping for a reduced bunch sprint, which I think can happen and has happened before. That would be pretty great for me if I have a good day and I'm also there."
"If the attacks go earlier, a guy like Kasper is so strong and has shown in the past that on a good day, he can follow the main guys and be there, so I can hold myself back a little bit and focus on the sprint." says Mikhels, who managed to sprint to a place of honor several times in the Tour of the Algarve, revealing his tactics.
Last year, Jonas Rutsch, who has since left for Intermarché-Wanty, was the American team's best rider in the Omloop, finishing in 54th place. The team will skip Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne in 2024.
Selection EF Education-EasyPost Omloop Het Nieuwsblad & Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2025
Kasper Asgreen
Vincenzo Albanese
Michael Valgren
Madis Mikhels
Mikkel Honoré
Ouwain Doull
Marijn van den Berg
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Latest Comments
- Remco is still very young. And injuries can absolutely keep you from overdoing it and getting worse. The recent Remco accident didn't keep him from being able to ride a recumbent inside. Wout's knee is a different story thoughVeganpotter23-01-2025
- Van der Poel style is winning by a half a lap and leading the race from the end of the second lap.
Barnes127420-01-2025 - If she thinks talent alone will put her there she will not see many podium finishes much less a GC finish.....work as a team utilizing tactics to consistently be at the top.Germanrazor10-01-2025
- This was very informative! Luiz Antonio Duarte Ferreiraluizantonioduarteferreira02-01-2025
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024