CYCLING – The anticipation is building for the first cobblestone races of the season as the opening weekend approaches on Saturday and Sunday as ‘Omloop Het Nieuwsblad’ and ‘Kuurne Brussels Kuurne’ unfold on Belgian roads, marking the start of the Flemish racing season.
Often considered warm-ups for the much-anticipated spring classics, these races are far from easy. Starting with the challenging ‘Omloop,’ the first WorldTour race on European soil in 2024, riders will face a gruelling course featuring 12 climbs and nine cobble sectors, covering 202km and ascending 1850m from Ghent to Ninove. Key moments include the iconic Muur van Geraadsbergen and the Bosberg, both playing pivotal roles in shaping the outcome. Other critical points include the Haaghoek and the Leberg, setting the stage for the middle selective phase featuring the key climbs Wolvenberg, Molenberg, and Berendries.
The race concludes with a fast 12km stretch towards the traditional finish in Elisabethlaan in Ninove, where a reduced bunch sprint is anticipated.
Following the spectacular team presentation in the Kuipke in Ghent, the focus shifts to the Grote Markt in Kortrijk for the new start location of the Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne the next day. The 196.4km course, featuring 1800 metres of climbing and four cobble sectors, maintains its challenging nature, with major climbs such as the Kruisberg, Hotond, Cote de Trieu, and Kluisberg in the final phase. The last 60km present flat yet sometimes narrow and exposed roads, leading to the traditional finish in Brugsesteenweg in Kuurne, typically resulting in a restricted bunch sprint.
Bahrain Victorious has outlined a clear strategy for the Opening Weekend, with sports director Michal Golas expressing confidence in the team’s performance. “Matej Mohoric will lead both races in an effort to secure the best possible result – victory,” says Golas.
Last year, the Slovenian talent was able to take an excellent third place in Kuurne. Now he arrives in Belgium, coming off an outstanding victory at the Vuelta Valenciana, and a satisfying block of training.
“I felt great in training in the last couple of days. I already won this year, and it gives me extra motivation to go chase my dreams starting already on this weekend in Omloop and Kuurne. Moreover the team spirit is high, everyone is really excited to go back racing on the cobbles here in Belgium,” added Golas.
If Mohoric is named as one of the favourites, the team also boasts the presence of co-leader Fred Wright, the UK national champion, aiming for success in the Belgian campaign this year.
Golas emphasises the team’s ambition, stating, “We are in Belgium with an ambitious team. When you have such a talented rider like Matej, you always have to aim for a victory. Besides him, we believe in Fred’s good feeling with the cobbles and growing capacity to get excellent results. We will have a bunch of riders, including him, who came from a period of good quality training at Gran Canaria, like our road captain Andrea Pasqualon. Therefore, the whole team is in perfect shape to face these challenging courses, where it will be essential to protect the leaders at crucial points and arrive towards the final part with several boys supporting the leaders, especially in the Kuurne.
“Among the helpers, Matevž Govekar is not only in shape but also motivated after his victory in Turkey and will be fundamental in the final in particular. Fran Miholjević, Kamil Gradek and Dušan Rajović round up our lineup for Omloop, while for Kuurne, Alberto Bruttomesso, at his debut on the cobbles, will replace the Serbian rider.
“The team is geared up for the expected results and to use this opening taste of cobbles as a valuable test for the season ahead.”