CYCLING – TEAM Bahrain Victorious continue their Flemish campaign in Belgium today at Dwars door Vlaanderen, following a thrilling finale at the ‘In Flanders Fields’ event on Sunday where Alec Segaert made a strong late attack but was caught in the final few hundred metres by the chasing sprinters.
The 80th edition of today’s UCI World Tour Classic will once again start in Roeselare, a fixed departure point since 2007, and finish on the traditional Verbindingsweg in Waregem.
The 185-kilometre course through the Flemish Ardennes features several updates alongside its well-known decisive sectors.
After an opening flat section, the first climbs come early with two new additions: Hellestraat (1.2km at 5.2 per cent, max 10pc) and Onderbossenaarstraat (1.4km at 5.3pc, max 10.7pc), positioned around 77km from the finish.
As in previous editions, the race is expected to be shaped by the key sectors between 90km and 115km and 130km and 145km. These include the double ascent of Berg Ten Houte (1.1km at 6pc, max 21pc), Knokteberg-Trieu (1.1km at 7pc, max 11.8pc), Hotond (1.2km at 3.1pc), and the cobbled stretch of Mariaborrestraat.
The route then continues via Eikenberg, Doorn, and Huisepontweg before entering the final circuits featuring Nokereberg and Herlegemstraat. The closing kilometres are mostly flat, leaving the door open for different scenarios, from late solo attacks to a reduced bunch sprint, favouring fast riders who can survive the earlier difficulties.
“Dwars door Vlaanderen is a slightly shorter race and, at 185km, it brings a different mindset and dynamic in the peloton,” said Bahrain Victorious sports director Nikolas Maes. “It’s always a race with an unwritten-script, but I still expect it to be quite open.
“We have a well-performing Matej Mohoric and Alec Segaert, and they will be our leaders. A sprint option with Pau Miquel and Alessandro Borgo could also be possible, but first we need to make sure we come through the hardest sections with enough riders in front.
“The organisers have made some changes around the second passage of Berg Ten Houte, which I believe will be one of the key moments of the race. The key zone has changed compared to last year, so our focus will be on positioning our leaders well between 103km and 113km. For this, Daniel Skerl, Kamil Gradek, and Zak Erzen will play an important supporting role.
“We will look for opportunities to move after the race splits. The goal is to fight for a result from a breakaway or in a sprint from a reduced group. Let’s see how the race evolves, but I believe Matej and Alec are both capable of fighting again for a top 10 result.”
Segaert added: “Dwars door Vlaanderen is a race I’m really looking forward to after the Classics we’ve had so far. The feelings are good, and last year I already finished in the top ten. Hopefully this time I can do even better. I’m ready for it.”
Mohoric commented: “We’ve had some ups and downs here in Belgium. E3 didn’t go as we hoped, but we raced well in Flanders Fields. The result was missing, but both Alec and I are feeling good. Hopefully we can give it another strong try and see what we can do.”
&uuid=(email))