Belgium will be on the classics specialists’ menu for a while after next week.  Dwars door Vlaanderen, GP E3 and Gent-Wevelgem will serve as the appetizers before the main course, the Tour of Flanders, takes place on Easter Sunday.  On the heels of Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico, IAM Cycling will be working to animate these races and hopefully take some UCI points with its leaders Sylvain Chavanel and Heinrich Haussler.
 
Jérôme Pineau, who is focusing on helping his leaders this coming Sunday at Milan-San Remo, nevertheless can thing clearly and with great enthusiasm about his coming appointments in Belgium. 

“The legs feel good.  I am looking forward to racing the Dwars door Vlaanderen and GP E3.  I discovered these races for the first time last year since before when I was on Quick Step, it was hard to find a place in the team for the Belgian races.  These tests are friendly and playful.  There are many changes in direction, with wind, narrow roads, and cobbles.  The team strategy weighs less.  It’s important to be well place at all times because the race can be decided at any moment.  In fact, it reminds me of my training roads, minus the pavé.”
 
At 35 years old, Pineau notes the importance of the upcoming races for the Swiss professional team. 

“We have a strong and cohesive group for the coming races.  I hope we can run a beautiful classics campaign this year and grab a lot of points.  It is always important to start well.  This gives you momentum for the future.  We shouldn’t neglect the psychological aspect of the results, both for the racers and the staff.”
 
Dwars door Vlaanderen (Wednesday, March 25th)
Marcel Aregger (S)
Matthias Brändle (Aut)
Dries Devenyns (Bel)
Reto Hollenstein (S)
Jérôme Pineau (F)
Vicente Reynes (Sp)
Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat)
Jonas Van Genechten (Bel)
 
GP E3 (Friday, March 27th)
Matthias Brändle (Aut)
Sylvain Chavanel (F)
Dries Devenyns (Bel)
Heinrich Haussler (Aus)
Reto Hollenstein (S)
Roger Kluge (Ger)
Jérôme Pineau (F)
Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat)
 
Gent - Wevelgem (Sunday, March 29th)
Marcel Aregger (S)
Matthias Brändle (Aut)
Sylvain Chavanel (F)
Heinrich Haussler (Aus)
Reto Hollenstein (S)
Roger Kluge (Ger)
Vicente Reynes (Sp)
Jonas Van Genechten (Bel)