After his 5th place at the Amstel Gold Race and 5th place at last year's edition of the race, Michal Kwiatkowski will lead Omega Pharma-Quick Step in tomorrow's Fleche Wallonne. He will be joined by Wout Poels and Jan Bakelants at the helm of the team that sees Serge Pauwels, Gianluca Brambilla and Carlos Verona line up alongside 5 riders from the Amstel team.
Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team has announced the selection that will participate in La Flèche Wallonne, The 199 kilometer race includes 11 climbs, including three ascents of the Mur de Huy (9.3% average gradient, maximum ramp 17 percent) with the last being the final of the race.
"There is a change in the parcours where the race will start from Bastogne," Sport Director Davide Bramati said. "So, there will be a first part that is flat, and then you enter the final part with the 11 climbs. On the Mur de Huy, the second time we climb it could be a 'medial' place to attack as it is at about 25km left to go in the race. We will have to stay focused there and as for sure someone might try and take action well before the final trip up the Mur de Huy.
"As for our selection, we once again have a good team at the start. We changed a few elements if you compare it to Amstel where we have more climbers. Our road captain is Michal Kwiatkowski as he showed his condition with his top 5 finish at Amstel Gold Race. He was also 5th at this race in 2013.
"We will try to do something good again this year and be there for the finale in the second of the three Ardennes Classics."
OPQS for Fleche Wallonne:
Michal Kwiatkowski, Wout Poels, Jan Bakelants, Michal Golas, Pieter Serry, Carlos Verona, Serge Pauwels, and Gianluca Brambilla
Yors Anderson SANTOFIMIO VELOZA 29 years | today |
Gediminas BAGDONAS 39 years | today |
Diego WENDELSPIESS 29 years | today |
Francesco CHESI 29 years | today |
Anna STEVENSON 43 years | today |
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