After the Nokere Koerse - Danilith Classic and Handzame Classic, the classics squad of Team Stölting Service Group finish their “Belgian week” on Wednesday with Dwars door Vlaanderen - À travers de Flandre (1.HC).

The two former races finished in bunch sprints, but Dwars door Vlaanderen will be a more challenging race, with the finish in Waregem after 199.7 km. Three long cobble sections as well as twelve steep Flemish “hellingen” – five of which are also cobbled – will ensure a tough race where a small group at the end is much more likely than a big peloton.

Gerald Ciolek (GER) will be supported by Alex Kirsch (LUX), Jonas Tenbrock (GER) and the Danes Michael Carbel, Rasmus Guldhammer, Mads Pedersen, Rasmus Quaade, and Michael Reihs.

Sports Director Gregor Willwohl says: “This race where a selection is certain to happen suits Gerald well. He has set his sights on Dwars door Vlaanderen for a while now, and he's very motivated. In the last days we trained on the race route, also testing equipment and tyre pressure, so that we're well-prepared for Wednesday. It's our goal to have two-three riders around Gerald going into the final and have them race for a good result together.”

At the weekend eight riders will start at the Critérium International (2.HC). The two-day, three-stage race is held by Tour de France organisers ASO.

Saturday offers two half-stages. In the morning the peloton embarks on a 90.5 km flat stage traditionally decided in a mass sprint on a slightly uphill finishing straight. In the afternoon a 7 km individual time trial will provide some time gaps ahead of the mountain stage on Sunday.

The decision about the overall victory will be made on Easter Sunday: 171.5 km with four climbs during the day plus the 14.1 km, 6.2% final climb to the Col de l'Ospedale, where the climbers can show their abilities.

Team Stölting Service Group sends both timetriallists such as Lennard Kämna (GER) or Rasmus Quaade (DEN) and climbers like Linus Gerdemann (GER), Christian Mager (GER), and Fabian Wegmann (GER) to Corsica. Romain Lemarchand (FRA), Rasmus Guldhammer (DEN), and Sven Reutter (GER) round off the team.

Sports Director Jochen Hahn says: “Most of our riders haven't been racing for a while, so we'll have to test ourselves against the competition. The Critérium International is a great race for that; Lennard and Rasmus Quaade can test themselves in the time trial, and the others will also do their best.”

Line-up for Dwars door Vlaanderen

Michael Carbel (DEN)
Gerald Ciolek (GER)
Rasmus Guldhammer (DEN)
Alex Kirsch (LUX)
Mads Pedersen (DEN)
Rasmus Quaade (DEN)
Michael Reihs (DEN)
Jonas Tenbrock (GER)

Line-up for Criterium International
Linus Gerdemann (GER)
Rasmus Guldhammer (DEN)
Lennard Kämna (GER)
Romain Lemarchand (FRA)
Christian Mager (GER)
Rasmus Quaade (DEN)
Sven Reutter (GER)
Fabian Wegmann (GER)