Map
Measuring 177 km in length, the race starts from Aarschot and finishes in Diest. The riders will undertake 14 sectors of unpaved and cobblestones terrain making up for 41km. It will be a gradual thinning of the peloton.
Team Quick Step Alpha vinyl comes with a trio of serious contenders in Yves Lampert, Florian Sénéchal and Zdeněk Štybar. Lotto Soutal will be looking to gain some points here. New Sprint sensation Arnaud De Lie will be here as will Victor Campenaerts but it will be Florian Vermeersch who holds the biggest chance of victory.
Piet Allegaert and Sep Vanmarcke of Cofidis and team Israel Nation respectively make up for the world tour team. Local super team Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert brings in a strong contingency with Quinten Hermans, Aimé De Gendt, Boy van Poppel and last week Brussels classic super winner Taco van der Hoorn. Alpécin-Fenix will be hoping for Tim Merlier to hold up to the front group for a sprint while Gianni Vermeersch will be here as back up.
Amaury Capiot and Connor Swift from team Arkéa–Samsic are men to watch as in Pierre Barbier from B&B. Although his form has not been the best recently, Rasmus Tiller of Uno-X usually strives on this terrain.
Finally, the 19 year old Thibau Nys who will be riding for Trek-Segafredo as from August will have his say after having finished third to the Vermeersch brothers in the Antwerp classics two weeks ago.
Predictions
(out of 10 stars)
★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ : Yves Lampert - We have not seen him since his 'cow' crash at Paris-Roubaix but he should be in shape particularly with the Tour De France approaching.
★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ : Quinten Hermans - Had it not been for his crash last week and his unknown state of recovery, he would have been my favourite; with his cyclo-cross abilities and his sprint he would dominate.
★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ : Florian Vermeersch - His team will try to pace it to bring Arnaud De Lie to a sprint finish. But Florian will follow any attacks and could find himself in a position to win.
★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ : Gianni Vermeersch - He might also not be his team's plan A but as alternative, he will have his chance if the right race status is in place.
★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ : Connor Swift - He will be in the fight for a win and his sprint should not be under-rated.
★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ : Taco van der Hoorn - This man cannot be over-looked. Either from a break-away or not, he strives on cobblestones.
Rasmus Tiller (Uno-X)
Danny van Poppel (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) on 1s
Yves Lampaert (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) on 2s
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