Apart from the Volta a Catalunya Lotto Soudal will also participate in three Belgian one-day races this week, starting with Dwars door Vlaanderen tomorrow. The 70thedition of this Europe Tour race is just over 200 kilometres long. The start is in Roeselare, the finish in Waregem.

The riders will cross the finish line two times before the actual end of the race. The first time after 45.5 kilometres and then 23.4 kilometres later again. Next the peloton heads towards the hills. There are twelve hills on the route of Dwars door Vlaanderen, starting with the Nieuwe Kwaremont. The duo Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg lies on the course as well, at about thirty kilometres from the end. Nokereberg is the last hill of the day, after that one the riders only have to cover 7.9 kilometres to the finish in Waregem. Belgian champion Jens Debusschere, sixth last year, hopes to sprint for the victory.

“It was my goal to be in top condition from Tirreno-Adriatico on, that this was the case gives confidence for the next races," he said. "Last weekend I trained on the route of Dwars door Vlaanderen. It gave me a good feeling. I hope to benefit from my top condition in the next weeks.

"Last year we sprinted with a group of about fifty for the second place behind Niki Terpstra. I hope this year we can get to the finish with a group of twenty riders and can sprint for the victory in Waregem.

"How the race will develop partly depends on the weather conditions. If the wind comes from the same direction as when I rode there on Saturday, it will be difficult for an escapee, because he would have headwind in the last thirty kilometres.”

Selection Lotto Soudal: 

Lars Bak, Tiesj Benoot, Vegard Breen, Stig Broeckx, Sean De Bie, Jens Debusschere, Gert Dockx and Pim Ligthart.