The Flemish cycling spring season continues, today Lotto Belisol will start in the Scheldeprijs. It's already the 102ndedition of the Europe Tour race.

 

The official start is in Schoten, just like the finish. The finale consists of three laps of 16.4km. The Scheldeprijs is a fantastic opportunity for the sprinters. Kenny Dehaes is the leader for the Lotto Belisol team.

 

Kenny can count on support of among other Greg Henderson, Marcel Sieberg and Jonas Van Genechten. The biggest competitor will be Marcel Kittel, who can win the Scheldeprijs for the third time in a row. Other fast riders are Arnaud Démare, Tyler Farrar and Alexander Kristoff. Also Peter Sagan and Tom Boonen will start. Last year Dehaes was 7th.

 

"If I didn't crash in the morning stage in the Three Days of De Panne – Koksijde last week, I would have been close to the victory," he said. "I was very disappointed when I crashed in the last turn. But in the Ronde I didn't have any annoyance from the crash.

 

"Last year I didn't handle the sprint in the Scheldeprijs as I should, otherwise a top five would have been possible. Being in the top five is this year's goal. I hope for the podium and dream about the victory, it would be wonderful for me and the team.

 

"I'm better now compared to this period last year. A part of the team rode also the Tour of Drenthe and Nokere Koerse, which I both won. Marcel Sieberg joins the selection, with his support and Jonas Van Genechten we can do a nice lead out.

 

"Because the Scheldeprijs is in between the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, a lot of riders will start just to spend some more kilometers on the bike. Normally this race is one for the sprinters, but if there's a lot of wind echelons could be formed.

 

"It's not fun to say but there is often a crash a few hundreds of meters before the finish line. Let's hope that will not be the case this year, for me and for other riders." 

 

"Sunday, in the Tour of Flanders I had to stay with Jürgen Roelandts as long as possible. When he left the race that was a big blow, we've been riding together for five years now so I've got a lot of sympathy for him.

 

"After Jürgens' crash, Tony Gallopin hit the ground twice which made it very difficult for us to focus back on the race. Hopefully we will be spared of any misfortune.

 

"Wednesday, we don't have to control the race. Marcel Kittel is the big favorite. In the run-up to the bunch sprint we will form our sprint train. Maybe we can send out a man with the early escapees, so we can hide in the peloton. We're the underdog and can abide the sprint."

 

Selection Lotto Belisol: Kris Boeckmans, Vegard Breen, Sean De Bie, Kenny Dehaes, Greg Henderson, Marcel Sieberg, Boris Vallée and Jonas Van Genechten.