Intermarché-Wanty launches its classics campaign on Belgian soil with three races in four days: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (1.WT) this Saturday, March 1st, followed by Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne (1.Pro) on Sunday, March 2nd, and the first Walloon race of the season with the Samyn Classic (1.1) on Tuesday, March 4th. A group of eleven riders will compete under the direction of Aike Visbeek, Dimitri Claeys, and Franky Van Haesebroucke.
The following day, an identical distance is to be covered for Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. From the start in Kortrijk, thirteen climbs are to be tackled in the heart of the Flemish Ardennes and the Pays des Collines. The Côte de Trieu and the Kluisberg, the last two obstacles of the course located more than 60 kilometers from the finish, precede a 500-meter cobbled section in the Beerbosstraat before entering the local circuit in Kuurne.
Back on a race he loves, Taco van der Hoorn finds the same course on which he kept the suspense going until the finish, obtaining a place in the top ten from the breakaway in 2022 and 2023. Local rider Vito Braet, who attacked on the local circuit last year, is competing in both events of the opening weekend, as are Arne Marit, Jonas Rutsch, and Roel van Sintmaartensdijk. Youngsters Huub Artz and Dries De Pooter complete the selection.
"We have been eagerly awaiting this long Belgian opening weekend, which we have meticulously prepared. Despite the absences of Biniam Girmay, who became a father for the second time, and Hugo Page, who is ill, we still have a solid and broad selection, allowing us to field fresh riders in each of the three classics. We saw at the Tour of the Algarve that the condition is there. I'm particularly thinking of Laurenz Rex; I'm proud of his development as a leader. He is now physically stronger and more experienced than last season. With his current form, we can expect him to play a role in the finals of Nieuwsblad and Samyn Classic. At Kuurne on Sunday, our spearheads will be Vito Braet and Arne Marit, as fast riders, and we are looking forward to Taco van der Hoorn's return to the classics. He knows the course like no one else and is an important element of our group for the spring. We can expect open and attractive races, with a chance of a large bunch sprint at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, especially if the wind blows strongly in the finale and reduces the chances of the breakaways surviving."
