Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
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Current racing:
- April 2: Dwars door Vlaanderen
- April 2: Paris - Camembert Lepetit
Upcoming racing:
- April 4: Route Adélie de Vitre
- April 5: GP Miguel Indurain
- April 5: Volta Limburg Classic
- April 6: Ronde van Vlaanderen
Latest completed racing:
- March 24 - 30: Volta Ciclista a Catalunya
- March 30: Gent - Wevelgem
- March 30: La Roue Tourangelle
- March 25 - 29: Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali
- March 28: E3 Saxo Bank Classic
- March 26: Classic Brugge-De Panne
- March 22: Milano-Sanremo
- March 21: Bredene Koksijde Classic
- March 20: GP de Denain
- March 19: Danilith Nokere Koerse
- March 19: Milano-Torino
- March 9 - 16: Paris-Nice
- March 10 - 16: Tirreno-Adriatico
- March 8: Strade Bianche
- March 5: Trofeo Laigueglia
- March 4: Le Samyn Classic
Here’s the team’s news:
Tim Merlier will lead the team at the Belgian cobbled classic.
We start the month of April by taking on Dwars door Vlaanderen, the last one-day race before the mythical De Ronde, which gets underway from Roeselare. The menu will consist of ten climbs – including a double ascent of the Côte de Trieu, Berg ten Houte, Hotond, and another double ascent of the Nokereberg (5.7% average gradient) – and seven cobblestone sectors, the most important of which will be the 2400m-long Mariaborrestraat and Herlegemstraat.
Waregem, where Soudal Quick-Step triumphed on six occasions with four different riders, will welcome the peloton after 184 kilometers for the conclusion of this 79th edition. Our team will be present at the start this Wednesday with a seven-man roster comprising Pascal Eenkhoorn, two-time winner Yves Lampaert, Paul Magnier, European Champion and Gent-Wevelgem runner-up Tim Merlier, Casper Pedersen – who pins on a number again after a solid ride in E3 Saxo Classic – Bert Van Lerberghe, and Warre Vangheluwe.
Yves Lampaert wins the 2018 Dwars door Vlaanderen. Sirotti photo
“Dwars door Vlaanderen is not the longest one-day race of the calendar, but it has some really hard parts starting from kilometer 80, climbs coming in quick succession that will really test the riders. We could see a 60-man bunch sprint at the finish, as it has happened in the past, or a small group in the fight for victory. It remains to be seen what scenario we will have, as it usually depends on the weather. We go there with a good team and we hope for a nice result again, just like in the previous races of this spring”, said sports director Iljo Keisse.
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The team posted this update:
Team Bahrain Victorious is set for the 79th edition of Dwars door Vlaanderen, the fourth and final rehearsal ahead of the Ronde van Vlaanderen on 6 April. The team heads into Wednesday’s race looking to bounce back after a difficult outing at Gent-Wevelgem.
The 184km route starts in Roeselare and finishes in Waregem, featuring 10 climbs and 7 cobbled sectors. Organisers have removed the Kanarieberg climb following a serious crash last year, trimming the course by 4.2km.
Fred Wright racing in stage 10 of the 2022 Tour de France. Sirotti photo
Fred Wright will lead the team, supported by Vlad Van Mechelen, Rob Stannard, Matej Mohorič, Andrea Pasqualon, Alberto Bruttomesso, and Roman Ermakov.
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Michał Gołaś, Sports Director for Bahrain Victorious, said:
“We are looking to turn our fortunes in this Classics block of racing. We know the guys are capable of better and we want to get into the right moves in this race and come through with a good result. Fred will be the leader. Matej hasn’t been in the best shape after illness, but he will play an important role as our road captain—guiding and helping the team in key moments. We’ll need to be attentive to the moves and any splits – it’s a race that can come alive at any moment.”
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Here's the news from Pogacar's UAE team Emirates-XRG:
After an impressive podium at Milano – San Remo, Tadej Pogačar returns to Belgium to take on the biggest of the Flanders Classics: the Ronde Van Vlaanderen (6 April) on Sunday. With 23 victories already on the board this season, the Emirati team go into the weekend with their tails up and in search of a big result.
The team brings a wealth of classics experience to the table, most notably through veterans Nils Politt and local favourite Tim Wellens, who boast a combined 15 starts in the historic monument race. The 2023 ‘De Ronde’ Champion Pogačar comes into the race as one of the favourites and reflects on good memories on Flemish roads.
Tadej Pogacar wins the 2023 Tour of Flanders.
Pogačar: “Flanders is an amazing race and for sure ranks as one of the most important victories in my career. The energy of the race and the passion for cycling in this region is something special. The team is very strong and I think we can give a really good showing to try and ride for the victory.
"In Milano- San Remo we had a great race and a good battle between the rivals and I’m looking forward to doing it all again on Sunday, albeit in different circumstances.”
Prior to Flanders there will be another test on the cards for the Emirati squad: Dwars Door Vlaanderen (2 April).
Sports Directors Fabio Baldato (Ita) and Marco Marcato (Ita) will guide the team from the car for both races.
Dwars door Vlaanderen – A travers la Flandre [1.UWT] – 02-April-2025
- Filippo Baroncini (Ita)
- Mikkel Bjerg (Den)
- Sebastian Molano (Col)
- Nils Politt (Ger)
- Rui Oliveira (Por)
- Jhonatan Narvaez (Ecu)
- Tim Wellens (Bel)
Ronde van Vlaanderen – Tour des Flandres - Tour of Flanders [1.UWT] – 06-Apr-2025
- Mikkel Bjerg (Den)
- Tadej Pogačar (Slo)
- Florian Vermeersch (Bel)
- Antonio Morgado (Por)
- Jhonatan Narvaez (Ecu)
- Nils Politt (Ger)
- Tim Wellens (Bel)
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