Team Dimension Data have announced their squad of seven riders for the Gent-Wevelgem cycle race, which takes place tomorrow.
The African WorldTour team said in a press statement today that they had selected “a powerful and experienced squad” for the 81st edition of the Belgian event.
The line-up includes, among others, former winners of the race Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen (2009) and Austrian Bernie Eisel (2010).
South African Reinardt Janse van Rensburg is part of the Team Dimension Data squad for the 81st Gent-Wevelgem in Belgium tomorrow. Photo: Stiehl Photography
Denmark’s Michael Valgren, together with Boasson Hagen, will feature as classics specialists while South Africa’s Reinardt Janse van Rensburg will play a valuable role in positioning Italy’s Giacomo Nizzolo for the sprint.
Belgian Julien Vermote, Dane Lars Bak and Eisel will assist in positioning the team.
Bak said in the statement that the event had always been a big classic but it was now a “real classic” due to the distance of just over 250km.
He added that dry and windy conditions were expected which would make it a “sprinter classic”.
However, it would still be a difficult race.
“It could be a small group coming to the finish, which we have seen before because there is a lot of wind. So we are going to have to keep fighting the whole day to have a good position in the front.”
He said the crucial point was always on the back side of the Kemmel, which features in the last 45km of the race.
“We saw in the last two years that the group that goes from there stays at the front. I think that last year there were only around 30 guys in the first group.”
Bak said the team were fresh and motivated and would see what played out on the day and race accordingly.
Team:
1. Michael Valgren (classics specialist)
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (classics specialist)
3. Giacomo Nizzolo (sprinter)
4. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (leadout)
5. Julien Vermote (all-rounder)
6. Bernie Eisel (all-rounder)
7. Lars Bak (all-rounder)
