Classics team assembles for opening weekend In Belgium

UAE Team Emirates has confirmed the line-up for the first round of the Belgian classics with teams for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (1.UWT) on Saturday 29 and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne (1.Pro) on Sunday 30 February.

After 10 victories already for the team this season, the Emirati squad will be hoping to build on the successful classics campaign of 2019 which saw Alexander Kristoff win Gent – Wevelgem and take 3rd place in the Tour of Flanders.

Kristoff will return to lead the team at Omloop, while Philipsen will come in to the squad for Kuurne on Sunday in anticipation of a sprint finish.

Sports Directors Allan Peiper (Aus), Simone Pedrazzini (Swi) and Bruno Vicino (Ita) will lead the team over the weekend with just one change in the line-up between Saturday and Sunday, where Jasper Philipsen comes into the squad for Alessandro Covi.

 
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

-Mikkel Bjerg (Den)
-Tom Bohli (Swi)
-Alessandro Covi (Ita)
-Alexander Kristoff (Nor)
-Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)
-Marco Marcato (Ita)
-Sebastian Molano (Col)

Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne

-Mikkel Bjerg (Den)
-Tom Bohli (Swi)
-Jasper Philipsen (Bel)
-Alexander Kristoff (Nor)
-Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)
-Marco Marcato (Ita)
-Sebastian Molano (Col)

 
Allan Peiper (Sports Director) : “We go into this opening weekend of racing in Belgium with Alexander Kristoff as leader for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday and Jasper Philipsen leader for Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. Both guys have shown some good form already this year and I know both are hungry to get their first wins of the season.”

Alexander Kristoff: “It’s been a few years since I raced on the opening weekend at Omloop and Kuurne so I’m looking forward to getting back there. I think my condition is still building but after good blocks of racing in Spain I’m looking forward to really getting into the classics mode now.”