CYCLING – Matej Mohoric heads a strong lineup for Team Bahrain Victorious at the Renewi Tour – a five-stage race covering 762 kilometres through Belgium and the Netherlands.
The race kicks off tomorrow in Riemst and concludes in Geraardsbergen.
While the team’s riders in Spain are tackling the brutal ascents of the Vuelta a Espana, the Renewi Tour presents a different challenge, tailored for punchy, one-day classic riders in a stage-race format.
Though the race has only 4,880m of vertical gain, the pace is expected to be intense, with unpredictable weather conditions requiring constant vigilance from the peloton. The course features cobbles and short, sharp climbs, such as the Paterberg and three ascents of the Muur van Geraardsbergen on stage five, as well as a 15km individual time trial on stage two that will play a crucial role in shaping the general classification.
Mohoric, who secured a seventh place finish in the general classification (GC) last year and claimed victory in the final stage, is aiming to improve his standing and add another stage win to his name.
Phil Bauhaus will focus on the sprint stages, with Nikias Arndt serving as his final lead-out man. Łukasz Wisniowski, Dusan Rajovic, and Andrea Pasqualon will provide crucial support, especially in the early lead-out for Bauhaus. Fred Wright, known for his strong performances in cobbled classics, completes the line-up and is eager to chase a result.
Team Bahrain Victorious sports director Michał Golas commented: “Renewi Tour, as every year, is a very dynamic and fast race.
“Two stages are hard enough to make the GC with stage one on the rolling parcour around Reimst; it’s similar to previous years and will definitely make some gaps in the GC. We will then have to do well in the individual time trial (ITT) on stage two to stay in the GC. But stage five, which features famous Muur and other climbs, will make the race even harder than previous years as we do one more final lap of the circuit in Geraardsbergen.
“I expect the race will be more selective than in previous years and will be the most decisive stage in GC. We have a competitive team with Matej and Fred, and they are coming back into great shape, we showed it in the Tour of Poland. They will have great support.
“There are also some nice opportunities for Phil in the sprint, and looking at our line-up, we have a very solid lead out, so it looks like we can have a good week, but every day we have a chance for a good result.”
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