By @Sama_86
The Belgian classic will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, in Flanders territory, west of the city of Bruges. Due to its eminently flat layout we find a very large list of sprinters who came to Flemish lands to compete in one of the most coveted sprints of the cycling spring.
Route
Starting in Bruges, the race has a 212.9 km route, a long distance that crosses several towns, passes through the De Moeren plains, until reaching De Panne where a 48 km circuit is repeated until the finish line in Veurnestraat , a wide and long finish line.
Strategies
With historically sprint finishes, the race can be expected to end with a massive sprint, but pay attention to the wind that can be an influential factor in this race, according to predictions it will blow strongly from the west component, which can greatly complicate the race through its passage through the Moeren plain, in this area if the sprinters are not attentive, a group of good rollers could open a dangerous gap that could be definitive and turn the race into a trail of runners reaching the finish line in groups as it already happened in 2020 with the victory of Yves Lampaert.
favorites
Fabio Jakobsen: The sprinter from Soudal-Quick Step is a great favorite here, not only because he is the European champion, and because he has had a good season, apart from being one of the fastest and although he does not seem to be in peak form, he is accompanied by a cast of cyclists which should certainly launch you to victory.
Jasper Philipsen: Second here in 2021, the Belgian has recently fought for this race, he has just made a dream Tirreno with two victories and a second place, he was also present in San Remo, without a doubt all this leads him to possibly be the maximum favorite.
Dylan Groenewegen: The Dutchman is another dangerous contender, he went from less to more in Tirreno and in the UAE Tour he stood out, perhaps something more was expected of him in Milano Torino, but that’s Dylan, capable of not shining one day and getting his best sprint up to date next, in your favor? He has already won this race and last year he was second, not to mention that his pitcher will be Luka Mezgec.
Fernando Gaviria: The Colombian is progressing exponentially, every day he appears more in the quick finishes and in Milan Torino he was about to win, he seems to be finding the pedal stroke of yesteryear, will he be able to finish off in De Panne?
Olav Kooij: The Jumbo Visma sprinter is a sprint prodigy, his strength and speed already well known among the peloton. He arrives fine after exhibiting in Paris Nice and although he doesn’t usually wear the best trains, he doesn’t need anyone to get the best position, the smartest.
Sam Bennet: The Irish cyclist withdrew from Milano-Sanremo and did not complete Paris Nice either where he took 2nd place and two top10s, however Bennet already knows what it is to win this year and as usual he brings a heart attack train, capable of winning the race by themselves, Jordi Meeus and Danny Van Poppel.
UAE: Molano has been flying lately, and has two wins this season, ahead of his teammate Ackermann who seemed to be resurrected the other day at the Bredene Koksijde, we’ll see who the UAE leader is if they want to have any chance here.
Ewan: Pocket Rocket He is fast, he is strong, and he has already hit the post many times this season, victory this year in the WT is resisting him, Ewan brings a good train and a luxury pitcher, Jacopo Guarnieri, but we have already lived this story, The Australian didn’t quite finish well placed at the end with his team and he almost moved better alone. He will have a hard time if he goes solo against the rest.
start: Without victory this season, the Frenchman gave low results in the UAE Tour, things did not improve in Paris Nice and in Milan Sanremo he did not hold out like other years, far from the best form he has a good team, but I do not think he will finish.
Cavendish: The Briton is preparing his great goal of the season, the Tour de France, the change of team has not yet given him victories and although he has a good pitcher with Cees Bol, he has not appeared above except at the start of the UAE Tour.
DSM: He appears with Dainese as leader, but the results have not accompanied the bull to the Italian as they do with his teammates, Mayhofer in Australia and Welsford who has been intractable lately, I think the latter should be the last man here.
Bauhaus: The German sprinter from Bahrain comes from doing a Tirreno without victories, but with presence, in Santos Down Under he raised his arms, but that was two months ago, he only ran once in this classic, but that was many years ago.
Israel: Einhorn and Nizzolo enter the race with better results from the Israeli, but with more experience from the Italian, it will be interesting to see if they can work together for a common purpose.
You trust: The Italians Cimolai and Consoni present themselves with the favorite sign for Simone, he was up on the Tirreno and has already won the Saudi Tour, Max Walscheid is also fast, but I think they should focus on just one card.
Other interesting names for the sprint could be: Marin Van Den Berg (EF), Pascal Ackermann (UAE), Edward Theuns, Liepins and Skujins ( Segafredo), Mayrhofer (DSM), Milan (Bahrain), Niccolo Bonifazio (Intermarch), Dekker and Mozzato (Archaea), Malucelli (Bingo), Jason Teson (Total), Halvorsen and Southern Wærenshield (Uno-X).
Prediction
*** Jasper Philipsen, Olav Kooij.
** Jakobsen, Bennet, C. Ewan.
* Gaviria, Groenewegen, Bauhaus.
Manuel S.
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