IAM have announced their line-up for Dwars door Vlaanderen, E3 Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem

“Dwars door Vlaanderen is an appetizer before the monuments of the weekend,” Thierry Marichal, directeur sportif for IAM Cycling explained.  “This race seems to be to be more accessible to our riders, and then we will do our best to win some World Tour points at GP E3 and at Gent-Wevelgem.”

Having escaped within the first hour of the race with Nico Eeckhout at Dwars door Vlaanderen in 2001, Marichal who is now a sports director for IAM Cycling, fell victim to a hunger knock which cost him the victory against his breakaway partner, Eeckhout.

“I wasn’t really able to function properly because I was no longer able to refuel due to the extreme temperatures and my frozen fingers.”

Gent-Wevelgem is the race that is most exposed to the climatic conditions.  The wind, cold, and rain can completely scatter the peloton, as was the case in 2015.  Normally, with good weather a bunch sprint will decide the winner.

“To win in Wevelgem on Easter would effectively be the greatest trophy of my career,” a jocular Vicente Reynes said when commenting on his plans for his Easter week.  “But I won’t be the only one hoping to raise his arms in victory once we hit the finish line.  I could also play a deciding part as a member of a small group at the finish of the race in Waregem.  And at Harelbeke, I imagine I will be working for Dries Devenyns.  We have a great team for these cobbled classics with many strong assets like Dries Devenyns, Leigh Howard, Heinrich Haussler and Oliver Naesen.”

For ten days, the Flanders region will be alive with mad celebrations.  A fact Thierry Marichal confirmed: “In Flanders, this is the best week of the year for cycling fans.  It is essentially a permanent party that starts with the race in Waregem, before continuing onto Harelbeke and Wevelgem, before finishing off in Oudenarde at the Tour of Flanders, which is scheduled for Sunday, April 3rd."

Dwars door Vlaanderen

Dries Devenyns (Bel)

Reto Hollenstein (S)

Sondre Holst Enger (Nor)

Leigh Howard (Aus)

Roger Kluge (All)

Oliver Naesen (Bel)

Simon Pellaud (S)

Vicente Reynes (Esp)

E3 Harelbeke

Dries Devenyns (Bel)

Heinrich Haussler (Aus)

Reto Hollenstein (S)

Sondre Holst Enger (Nor)

Oliver Naesen (Bel)

Vicente Reynes (Esp)

Aleksejs Saramotins (Let)

Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)

Gent-Wevelgem

Heinrich Haussler (Aus)

Sondre Holst Enger (Nor)

Leigh Howard (Aus)

Roger Kluge (All)

Simon Pellaud (S)

Vicente Reynes (Esp)

Aleksejs Saramotins (Let)

Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)