In Dwars door Vlaanderen, all riders who are not named Van Aert, Pogacar or Van der Poel get a unique chance to triumph in the classics. Who will the Sporza jury put forward in Waregem?
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Tom Pidcock is getting back on his bike after suffering a mild concussion two weeks ago in the Tirreno. Our jury immediately puts forward the winner of Strade Bianche as a favourite.
Then Pidcock has to pass that other favorite: Jasper Philipsen. Will he go to war again like last week in De Panne? Or will he finish his sprint in Waregem?
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Christophe Laporte will start with Gent-Wevelgem in his pocket. This afternoon he has to do without his generous teammate Wout van Aert. Or scores Kuurne winner Tiesj Benoot again for Jumbo-Visma?
Mads Pedersen likes inclement weather, just think back to his victory at the 2019 World Cup. The Dane finished 5th in Wevelgem on Sunday. Will he score a first time this season in the spring classics today?
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Lotto’s thoroughbred Arnaud De Lie is out for revenge after a bad day in Gent-Wevelgem. If he is spared today from punctures or saddle problems, our jury sees him close.
Just like the Swiss speed rider Stefan Küng (6th in the E3) and the Dutch sprinter Olav Kooij (2nd in De Panne and 8th in Wevelgem).
Jasper Stuyven and Julian Alaphilippe have something to put right. They did not appear in the piece this spring. They are not racing for 10th and 11th place in Sanremo.
dark horses
According to our jury, these riders may and can surprise: the Dane Mikkel Bjerg (6th in Wevelgem), the American Magnus Sheffield (defending champion in the Brabantse Pijl), the Briton Ben Turner (on his feet again after his fall in the Omloop), the Let Krists Neilands (12th in E3) and former Belgian champion Dries De Bondt (backing up Jasper Philipsen).
