Favorites stage 2 Baloise Belgium Tour 2023 | Bunch sprint expected, but what will playful Van der Poel do?

The peloton is well acquainted with the second stage of the Baloise Belgium Tour. From Merelbeke, a 125-kilometer race takes place towards the west of Belgium, where the coastal town of Knokke-Heist is located. However, the peloton needs to be cautious of the wind, as it will blow diagonally from the front for most of the time.

Knokke-Heist is a well-known vacation spot, including for many Dutch people. In this seaside resort, the riders will face a local circuit of approximately 17 kilometers, which needs to be completed three times. For those cyclists who have never arrived here before, it's an ideal opportunity to familiarize themselves with the exact nature of the finish.

Characteristic of the finish in Knokke-Heist, a long-standing part of the Baloise Belgium Tour, are the uphill final meters. The peloton traditionally arrives here at full speed, but it wouldn't be the first time that a sprinter completely loses momentum in the last meters. Timing is key, as the saying goes, for those fast riders.

Times
Start: 1:40 p.m.
Finish: approximately 4:49 p.m.

It has been warm in the Low Countries for a while now, and Thursday will be no exception. With temperatures reaching 23 degrees Celsius, the weather is pleasant along the coast, but it is windy. Particularly on the road from Merelbeke towards the sea, this wind can cause trouble within the peloton, so there will likely be some nervousness about that.

We expect to see a bunch sprint, and if the wind breaks open the race, we anticipate that some of the sprinters will definitely hold on. After the first stage, we can't help but consider Jasper Philipsen as the top favorite. The Belgian rider actively participated in the race even far from the finish and still managed to win the sprint. The sprinter is clearly in top form, and with the support of Jonas Rickaert and Mathieu van der Poel, he has a fantastic lead-out.

Fabio Jakobsen was defeated by Philipsen, but he held his own in the challenging race. Can he sprint to the top step on Thursday? Caleb Ewan didn't have a chance in the first sprint, but if he manages to get his lead-out sorted, he is among the top contenders. Alexander Kristoff had a good position in the first stage but narrowly missed the podium. The Norwegian will be hoping for crosswinds, as his top speed alone is no longer enough to beat the pure sprinters.

Timothy Dupont was the surprising third-place finisher in the opening stage and will once again give his all in a stage that suits him better. We also expect Gerben Thijssen, who struggled in the first stage but is expected to perform better. DSM has a strong sprint duo in Sam Welsford and Casper van Uden, and based on recent form, the former has the advantage. Trek-Segafredo will likely play their card with Latvian rider Emils Liepins, but considering the slightly uphill finish, Thibau Nys could also be an option.

On Wednesday, Van der Poel tormented the peloton in a stage that was initially expected to end in a regular bunch sprint. If the wind is favorable and blowing hard enough on Thursday, the Dutchman will undoubtedly create a drafting spectacle. Van der Poel has already expressed his intention to race attractively for the remainder of the tour.

If the stage turns into a drafting race, other strong classic riders such as Jasper Stuyven, Yves Lampaert and Casper Pedersen of Soudal-Quick Step can also contend for victory. Cees Bol usually feels comfortable in windy conditions and is also quick at the finish.

Top favorite: Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Outsiders: Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal-Quick Step), Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Dstny), Sam Welsford (Team DSM) and Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X)
Longshots: Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), Timothy Dupont (Tarteletto-Isorex), Casper van Uden (DSM), Cees Bol (Astana-Qazaqstan), Jasper Stuyven, Emils Liepins, Thibau Nys (all three Trek-Segafredo) and Casper Pedersen (Soudal-Quick Step)

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