Belgian opening week-end is coming!
The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad will open the Belgian classics campaign for the ARKEA-B&B HOTELS UCI World Tour and Women’s teams.
World Team | Race preview
“I’m feeling pretty good as we approach the opening of the classics season. I’ve changed my preparation by starting the year with a training camp at altitude. I’m really pleased with the work done beforehand and with all the ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team staff. Together, we studied the different choices of equipment. I can feel that everyone is motivated by the idea of starting this cycle of cobbled classics. Since the start of the season, the whole team has been diligent and focused on a single objective: to perform well. I want to contribute all my experience so that we can succeed. Motivation is the best recipe for success in these classics.”
Women’s team | Race preview
“I can’t wait for the classics season to start! It’s always special to race in such prestigious and challenging events. Our ambition is to learn, improve and continue to grow race after race with the team. These classics are always very lively, and you have to be constantly on your game. If we manage to put the right ingredients in place and have a good day, I hope we can go on and get a good result.”
“For the purists, the season officially opens this weekend at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Our classics group has been strengthened this year with the arrival of Florian Sénéchal. We’ve got a really great team just waiting to get going. I’m thinking in particular of Jenthe Biermans and Amaury Capiot, who have been in fine form recently, but also Luca Mozzato, who will be able to express himself throughout this campaign in the races he loves. This group has matured. Right from the cobbles training camp at the start of January, I felt that the riders were committed. On Saturday, we’ll be outsiders at the start. Even if it’s a pedal race, there could be surprises. I’m thinking back to Mathis Le Berre (who escaped for 180 kilometres in 2023, editor’s note) who discovered this a year ago, put in a hell of a performance on these roads, and has since gained in experience. These classics are full of ups and downs, but we’ve got some great results to look forward to.”
“The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad will be our first WorldTour race this year. It’s a classic known for its cobbled sectors and its mountains. I’m expecting the girls to continue the good team work they’ve done so far and to be aggressive at the same time. It’s a competition that will allow us to raise our level by competing against the best, with a view to the next events on the calendar”.