All is set for a bunch sprint in Sunday's Ride London Classic but Belkin is lining up a team of climbers. The team hopes to use the hilly zone at the midpoint of the race to split the field and prevent the sprinters from taking the spoils.

The Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM will take its freedom and try to force the eventual winning move in the Prudential Ride London Classic on Sunday.

“I’m a Sports Director for a long time now, but I’ve never done a race in London,” said Sports Director Frans Maassen. “That’s a bit weird, but I had a chat with Jan Boven, who was here last year and I’m up-to-date now.

“We’ll be racing a really beautiful course. I expect a bunch sprint, but for us that’s not what we necessarily want. If other teams support us in the hill zone we can maybe force something. We have the riders to do so.”

Maassen is referring to Nick van der Lijke, who did well in the hilly stages of last week’s Tour de Wallonie. The youngster, who’s quick in a sprint as well, missed out on the Clasica San Sebastian due to a crash, but feels ready to race again.

“I feel a lot better now,” said Van der Lijke. “I had abrasions all over my body but slowly they began to fade. I have already been able to do some proper training rides and the right feeling is back.

“It was a pity that I couldn’t test myself at the highest level in San Sebastian. I was hoping to see what I was capable of when I’m in a strong shape. Hopefully, I can do that pretty soon, maybe on Sunday even. I expect a bunch sprint, I can do fine in a hard race as well.”
 

TEAM line-up:

Stef Clement, Laurens ten Dam, Jonathan Hivert, Steven Kruijswijk, Nick van der Lijke and Paul Martens.