Hobbs targets Kuurne for EF Education–EasyPost as Lamperti talks Opening Weekend podium chances

EF head into Opening Weekend with a versatile line-up. With Asgreen — a former Kuurne winner — they have proven classics pedigree, but there is no single, clear-cut leader for the weekend. And with multiple quick men at the start, including Hobbs and Lamperti, the American squad would not be unhappy if either race ends in a sprint.

EF also arrive with two riders who finished inside the top ten at Omloop last year. Vincenzo Albanese and Van den Berg placed eighth and ninth respectively, showing they can handle the demands of the Flemish finale and still be there when the race is decided. Colby Simmons and Mikkel Honoré round out the selection.

Asgreen, a former Tour of Flanders winner, is — understandably — looking forward to the start of the cobbled spring. “This is the race that most of us classics riders have been looking forward to for the whole winter. We have all been working towards this. Now, we're going to get our first indications of where everybody's at and who's going well and how the rest of the classics season is going to shape up,” the Dane said.

Asgreen, who will ride Omloop for the sixth time, also feels he knows exactly what the key lesson is for Saturday. “These races are about never, never giving up, especially at the Omloop. So many times, it has come together at the end. Last year was a super, super hard race, but it all came together for a sprint at the end. That happens regularly at the Omloop. Even if you're in the second or the third group, you need to keep pushing, because there is still a chance to get back in the game.”

One of Asgreen’s younger teammates is American sprinter Luke Lamperti, who is eager to start his classics campaign. “I'm really looking forward to the Omloop. These are my favorite races of the year. I love the way Belgium gets behind them. They’re just epic races. No matter if you have a good day or a bad day, you have a story to tell and you never really forget them. They are definitely not races that you forget,” Lamperti said.

He believes EF can be in the mix for a big result on Saturday, but he also knows how many things need to go right in racing like this. “I think we can go for a really good result at Omloop. We have a really good team and can aim for the podium,” he explained. “You have to have the legs and you have to know the races. You have to be in the right place, the right spot. And you have to be a little bit lucky to really have a good ride in the classics. That’s what makes them so special; so much has to go right.”

Lamperti also stressed that Opening Weekend is only the beginning of a long spring. “We want to start off on the right foot at Opening Weekend. We are also going to be patient and trust that the results will come.”

While Lamperti is making his first Opening Weekend start, Noah Hobbs will be stepping up again: the neo-pro is set to ride his first WorldTour classic and, in fact, his first WorldTour one-day race. With his sprint, the Brit is naturally looking at Sunday in Kuurne. “I feel good. I’m going to take this as a chance to learn, get stuck in, have fun, and embrace the classics with the team,” Hobbs said. “I really like the cobbles. It’s just full-on all the time. It suits me.”

Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne, he feels, could offer him a real shot depending on how the race plays out. “This weekend, I’m going to get stuck in and see how I feel. Kuurne on Sunday could be a chance for me,” he added. “It’s still a bit of a learning curve. I’ve done a few races and got some things wrong for sure, but each day I am getting better and that’s the main thing.” EF, in any case, look ready for different scenarios across the two days — from an aggressive classics battle on Saturday to a more controlled race with a sprint finish on Sunday.

Kasper Asgreen
Vincenzo Albanese
Noah Hobbs
Mikkel Honoré
Luke Lamperti
Colby Simmons
Marijn van den Berg