The 78th edition of Gent-Wevelgem takes place on Easter Sunday, continuing the bonanza of Belgian racing that forms part of the build up to the Tour of Flanders held in a weeks time.

 

ORICA-GreenEDGE go into Gent-Wevelgem with the same squad that competed in Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday and E3 Harelbeke on Friday. Stand out performances from Jens Keukeleire and Luke Durbridge in Wednesday's race have given the team confidence going into Sunday's race.

 

“Today was really good for my confidence,” said Durbridge after Dwars door Vlaanderen. “I needed to get up to the front and go for it. I didn’t hold back and I think that’s how I’m supposed to ride.”

 

Sports director Laurenzo Lapage is pleased with how things have gone so far this week.

 

“The team have been excellent, great attitude from the guys and we performed really well in Dwars door Vlaanderen,” said Lapage. “We are looking forward to Sunday's race and the busy schedule over the next week here in Belgium.

 

“Gent-Wevelgem is a long race with a flat finish and it could suit us if we maintain good positions and race intelligently like we did on Wednesday.

 

“Of course we have to see what happens on Friday at E3, but I think the team will have the same roles and objectives.”

 

The course is usually around 240kilometres in length with two ascents of the famously steep and cobbled climb the Kemmelberg. Even though the finish is flat and seemingly ideal for the sprinters, the undulating parcours leaves no certainty of a sprint finish and always makes for an exciting race. Crossing the border into France then back into Belgium, last years race was won by Luca Paolini (Team-Katusha) with Mathew Hayman finishing in eighteenth place for ORICA-GreenEDGE.

 

Gent-Wevelgem takes place on Sunday 27th of March at 11:30am CET.

 

ORICA-GreenEDGE at Gent-Wevelgem 27 March:

Sam Bewley (NZ, 28)

Magnus Cort (DEN, 22)

Mitch Docker (AUS, VIC, 29)

Luke Durbridge (AUS, WA, 24)

Jens Keukeleire (BEL, 27)

Luka Mezgec (SLO, 27)

Svein Tuft (CAN, 38)