It's finally time for first Nations
Cup event of the season, Grote Prijs André Noyelle (aka Gent Wevelgem U19).
History
of the race started in 1983 when Reginald Vandamme won the first
edition. In 1996 race was named after André Noyelle, the only Belgian
Olympic gold medallist in cycling who was born in Ypres, city host of
this event . On the list of previous winners you may find some big names
like Meersman, Stannard and Devolder. Dutch riders have won three
consecutive editions
(Looij in 2013, Cornelisse in 2014 and Eenkhoorn in 2015). Last year we
saw a small group sprint that decided the winner. Ludvig Wacker from Denmark won ahead of Michiel Hillen from Belgium and Davide Ferrari from Italy.
I have asked Ludvig Wacker how the race unfold last year:
Last years race didn’t go as easy as I hoped. We had some strong guys with us last year and my job was to be one of the supporting riders, but after the Kemmelberg first time I felt good. 15km before Kemmelberg for the last time I had a mechanical which meant I had to ride on the national teams reserve bike. I got back to the peloton just before Kemmelberg, but the ride back to the peloton was though, and I came into the forest of Kemmel, almost dead last, and therefore got dropped. But together with Niklas Märkl (who punctured) we rode back to the peloton and directly up to the breakaway, and with great help from Johan Langballe who was the only other remaining Danish rider in the peloton, he managed to keep the peloton away from the front group. No one really knew me in the group, but I believed that I could win in a sprint, so I didn’t hesitate, and took the win.
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| Ludvig Anton Wacker winning the sprint (photo: bloggen.be) |
Route
Since last year the race is officially a part of Gent Wevelgem which has seven races held on the same day, from elite men to u17 women, with more then 1000 cyclists involved. Race will start and finish in Ieper and it's 117 kilometres long. The main difficulties are of course the cobbled climbs. The route is slightly harder then last year as the final climb is much closer to the finish. Riders will tackle two laps with three climbs on each: Baneberg (136 m, 1.2 Km at 6.5%, Km 92.1), Kemmelberg (158 m, 1.0 Km at 7.9%, Km 100.2) & Monteberg (93 m, 0.8 Km at 5.5%, Km 103.8). Famous Kemmelberg is the crucial point with high gradients and 600 meters of cobbles. With just 17km to go I don't expect any other scenario then the strongest guys riding away on the second lap. Or even earlier if we are going to face difficult conditions with lots of wind.
I have asked pre race favorite, Remco Evenepoel about the race:
Charley Calvert who was third in Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne belives that Kemmelberg will be crucial:
Since last year the race is officially a part of Gent Wevelgem which has seven races held on the same day, from elite men to u17 women, with more then 1000 cyclists involved. Race will start and finish in Ieper and it's 117 kilometres long. The main difficulties are of course the cobbled climbs. The route is slightly harder then last year as the final climb is much closer to the finish. Riders will tackle two laps with three climbs on each: Baneberg (136 m, 1.2 Km at 6.5%, Km 92.1), Kemmelberg (158 m, 1.0 Km at 7.9%, Km 100.2) & Monteberg (93 m, 0.8 Km at 5.5%, Km 103.8). Famous Kemmelberg is the crucial point with high gradients and 600 meters of cobbles. With just 17km to go I don't expect any other scenario then the strongest guys riding away on the second lap. Or even earlier if we are going to face difficult conditions with lots of wind.
I have asked pre race favorite, Remco Evenepoel about the race:
Gent-Wevelgem is a nice but classic race. The course is pretty hard because it’s never flat. There’re always little climbs. It’s the first race on the very highest level in the Junior season so it's going be to tough. Last year I won a race with the same finish and hills (Route des Géants). So I know how hard the race will and can be. I’ll do everything to win and make the race as hard as possible. I’m already looking forward to Sunday and hopefully I’ll have a place on the podium!
I rode last year but the course is very different this year. Of course the Kemmelberg is always really important, there’ll definitely be race splits there so staying in the front group will be key.
At the moment I’m just looking to get round as I’ve been off the bike for 10 days with the flu, so this will be one of the first rides back. Fingers crossed I can fall back on my fitness base to get me to the finish.
Who will be the main favorites according to Charley ?
Also Remco Evenepoel will be the one to watch after a solo wins at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne and Guido Reybrouck Classic. I’ve got faith in our lads going out there too though, Will Tidball and Jim Brown will be strong over the climbs and will also be looking to get a good result .
Remco Evenepoel named riders from several nations as his main opponents:
I guess the Denish guys will be good (as they always are). But also nations as Norway, GB, Italy are always ready to race.
Favorites
There can be only one name to start my list of favorites. Remco Evenepoel showed amazing shape in recent weeks and is going to be a man to beat for every other rider who starts the race. Evenepoel already won three races this season including two uci rated races Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne and Guido Reybrouck Classic. Both won solo and with a solid margin. Especially his ride in Guido Reybouck Classic where he managed to bridge to the front group and then win solo by over three minutes was simply brillant. Of course as a main favorite he will be marked by pretty much everyone but I think he is strong enough to ride away on Kemmel and win again with quite a margin. Not to mention he has a very strong team behind including other possible winners as Nokere Koerse winner, Ilan Van Wilder and Vito Braet who was tenth in Kuurne and fifth in Guido Reybrouck.
Danish team brings a strong team despite missing last year's winner Ludvig Wacker who will have a different schedule this year. Marcus Hansen should be the leader as the already proved his level on cobbles finishing sixth in KBK and second in Nokere Koerse. Olivier Frederiksen did't have many chances to shine as a first year junior in uci races but he is a very talented rider with lots of wins in all youth categories in Denmark and I think it's a good moment for him to prove his level on the highest level. Also keep an eye on William Blume Levy who won time trial during last year Youth Olympics in U17 and may surprise on Sunday like Wacker did last year.
Great Britain is a another strong collective team with several cards to play. 3rd in KBK, Charley Calvert is coming back to racing after a flu so his shape is a bit of mistery. William Tidball who was sixth in KBK and Jim Brown who was sixth in GRC should be the key riders.
Norway bring one of the most anticipated riders from last year, Soren Waerenskjold who has already sign a contract with Team Joker Icopal for next year. It's going to be his first uci race this season but if he shows up in similar shape he had in last months of 2017 season he is going to be one of the main rivals for Evenepoel. Last year the only spring classic he rode was Paris Roubaix where he finished 11th.
Netherlands is another country with strong team and several options. Ruben Buitendijk finished top10 in both Nokere Koerse and GRC and he has also won Zepperen Zepperen earlier this season while Bas Van Belle was third in Nokere Koerse and should be another name to watch.
Finally France brings Hugo Page, first year junior who won prestigious Trophee Madiot series last year and already scored a win in uci race Bernaudeau Junior last week.
Other names to watch: Quinn Simmons, Nathan Vandepitte, Louis Rouiller, Aliaz Ormzel, Samuele Manfredi, Daniel Arnes
Startlist
Live ticker
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Great Britain is a another strong collective team with several cards to play. 3rd in KBK, Charley Calvert is coming back to racing after a flu so his shape is a bit of mistery. William Tidball who was sixth in KBK and Jim Brown who was sixth in GRC should be the key riders.
Norway bring one of the most anticipated riders from last year, Soren Waerenskjold who has already sign a contract with Team Joker Icopal for next year. It's going to be his first uci race this season but if he shows up in similar shape he had in last months of 2017 season he is going to be one of the main rivals for Evenepoel. Last year the only spring classic he rode was Paris Roubaix where he finished 11th.
Netherlands is another country with strong team and several options. Ruben Buitendijk finished top10 in both Nokere Koerse and GRC and he has also won Zepperen Zepperen earlier this season while Bas Van Belle was third in Nokere Koerse and should be another name to watch.
Finally France brings Hugo Page, first year junior who won prestigious Trophee Madiot series last year and already scored a win in uci race Bernaudeau Junior last week.
Other names to watch: Quinn Simmons, Nathan Vandepitte, Louis Rouiller, Aliaz Ormzel, Samuele Manfredi, Daniel Arnes
Startlist
Live ticker
Website
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