Soudal Quick-Step considers '60-man bunch sprint' a realistic scenario for Dwars door Vlaanderen, Bahrain changes tactics
Cycling
More and more teams are announcing their selections for Dwars door Vlaanderen. For example, the Soudal Quick-Step team is realistic enough to know they will not win the Tour of Flanders and are sending their A-team to the race ending in Waregem. At the same time, Matej Mohoric, the leader for Bahrain Victorious, has taken a step back after a few disappointing races.
Soudal Quick-Step has not yet won a classic this spring and is only too happy to change that on Wednesday. Two-time winner Yves Lampaert and E3 Saxo Classic revelation Casper Pedersen will be there. The leaders are Tim Merlier, who came second in Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday, and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad runner-up Paul Magnier.
Bert Van Lerberghe, Warre Vangheluwe, and Pascal Eenkhoorn complete the team, while Iljo Keisse, as sports director, will do the pre-race briefing on behalf of Jurgen Foré's team. "Dwars door Vlaanderen is not the longest one-day race of the calendar, but it has some really hard parts starting from kilometer 80, climbs coming in quick succession that will really test the riders."
Soudal Quick-Step is aiming for several scenarios with the team present. "We could see a 60-man bunch sprint at the finish, as it has happened in the past, or a small group in the fight for victory. It remains to be seen what scenario we will have, as it usually depends on the weather. We go there with a good team and we hope for a nice result again, just like in the previous races of this spring."
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Mohoric not leader, but road captain at Bahrain Victorious
Bahrain Victorious is changing its strategy. Intended leader Mohoric is still not at the top level after an illness and will not be the leader in Dwars door Vlaanderen, sports director Michal Golas explains. Bahrain Victorious has not had a very good spring. "We are looking to turn our fortunes in this Classics block of racing. We know the guys are capable of better, and we want to get into the right moves in this race and come through with a good result," the Pole said in a press release.
"Fred will be the leader. Matej hasn’t been in the best shape after illness, but he will play an important role as our road captain—guiding and helping the team in key moments. We’ll need to be attentive to the moves and any splits – it’s a race that can come alive at any moment."
Vlad Van Mechelen, Robert Stannard, Andrea Pasqualon, Alberto Brutomesso, and Roman Erkamov complete the Bahrain team. Leader Wright finished tenth in Milan-Sanremo but was unsuccessful in the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem. Mohoric rode one top-one hundred in a classic this season: he finished one hundredth in Milan-Sanremo.
Selection Soudal Quick-Step Dwars door Vlaanderen 2025
Tim Merlier
Yves Lampaert
Paul Magnier
Bert Van Lerberghe
Casper Pedersen
Warre Vangheluwe
Pascal Eenkhoorn
Selection Bahrain Victorious Dwars door Vlaanderen 2025
Fred Wright
Matej Mohoric
Vlad Van Mechelen
Robert Stannard
Andrea Pasqualon
Alberto Bruttomesso
Roman Ermakov
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Latest Comments
- Such negative comments that are truly inappropriate and actually ridiculous. He sounds like an old man, bitter that he can't race anymore. Why can't he just be gracious? Or just shut up. Instead of howling for attention, in such a rude manner. Must be Dementia creeping in. We are all living in the Now. Records are there, and some are being broken, some are unapproachable. If he doesn't like it, and it makes him sick, maybe he ought start watching some other sport. Don't want the old mans health to be upset.
reemmo031-03-2025 - Roger De Vlaeminck inspires me to create a new beer: "Bitter Old Twat Belgian".JackInhof31-03-2025
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- Are we all doomed to hear from Lance Armstrong and Johan bruneel until the end of time? It's not enough the stain they left on cycling? Do we have to see that shadow forever?bigyakman26-03-2025
- I am not sure if it is the hardest to win. In Flanders and Roubaix well before the finish the Peleton will be decimated and the race will normally be won by the best rider of the day or maybe 2nd or 3rd in case of a mechanical or unlucky break especially in case of Roubaix. In San Remo just before the finish there will still be several riders in contention and they are hard to ditch. For the best riders it is a race hard to win since it is not so selective. But if you are not a top 5 rider but still a top 10 rider this race is your best change to win. You will see more Milan San remo Winners with only 1 monument win than any other monumentsJoostmehrtens19-03-2025
- "fap fap fap oh Lance oh oh OHHHHHHH" again. Does he pay you to dredge up people with nice things to say about him? He was an giant a$$hole to people. It is a fact. Whatever his contrition about the doping, he is unapologetic about being a giant a$$hole to people. (Why yes, I do only login to complain. *I* am however only a giant a$$hole to people who laud giant a$$holes.)ericjensenridesbikes25-02-2025
- 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