Team Giant-Alpecin will line-up for Sunday’s Ronde van Vlaanderen with a powerful team boasting a wealth of classics experience, including the winner of the first monument of the season, at Milan-Sanremo, John Degenkolb (GER). Degenkolb will be joined by the same team that started Gent-Wevelgem, including Zico Waeytens (BEL) who rode a strong race to finish 14th on Sunday. 

The line-up is completed by: Nikias Arndt (GER), Roy Curvers (NED), Bert De Backer (BEL), Koen de Kort (NED), Ramon Sinkeldam (NED), and Albert Timmer (NED).

"Ronde van Vlaanderen is a race where the focus is on sprinting from point to point. You barely get a moment to relax so we should be focused all day," Degenkolb said.

"Last year's race was pretty controlled all day. In the absence of Cancellara and Boonen, I expect a much more open and unpredictable race for Sunday. There will be less focus on a particular favorite so more riders may have a chance to win. 

"From the Kwaremont on it will be a really hard final. I expect a select group together towards Oudenaarde and I hope to be there. But also if a big group makes it to the finish line I will have my chances."

"I am really looking forward to Sunday. For me it is the most special, important and beautiful race in Flanders. It is also a race close to my home so I expect a lot of support along the road. The start in Brugge is something special, it gives me goosebumps," Waeytens said.
 
"I am looking forward to race Flanders with this team. With John [Degenkolb] in the race we have a chance to win and being part of that feels great. Also, this requires a different mindset. I want to be important until the final and stay with John as long as I can."

"Wednesday’s recon went very well and the team is at its maximum strength for Sunday’s race," coach Marc Reef said.

"The main objective will be supporting John [Degenkolb] in reaching the final as efficiently as possible.

"A key moment in the race will be the second Kwaremont / first Paterberg section and we need to survive there to be able to have one or two riders in support of John when the final kicks off."