UAE Emirates-XRG relies on team strength for Omloop: "That makes us one of the favorites"

Pogacar - who has never competed in the Opening Weekend - will again not be there on Saturday and Sunday. The Slovenian is enjoying a weekend off after winning the UAE Tour and will compete again next week in Strade Bianche. He is certainly not sitting still: on Tuesday, he posted a photo from Sanremo. Teammates Tim Wellens and Alessandro Covi were also present.

Pogacar's teammates will have the opportunity to shine during the opening weekend, where they can prove their worth. Wellens did that last year in Kuurne, where he finished on the podium. "As a Belgian, this period of the season is always special for me, and I'm looking forward to it again," he said in a statement from his team.

"Our classic core is improving year after year, and I think we will be starting with a very strong team, which will make great things possible," continues the former Lotto rider, who has three new team members at his side. Florian Vermeersch, Rune Herregodts, and Jhonatan Narváez will start both races.

"That makes us one of the big favorites compared to recent years," Wellens expects. "We have started the season well, and the morale is high, so hopefully we can continue on that path. The weather also looks good for the coming weekend, so that's a nice bonus."

Nils Politt is about to start his tenth Opening Weekend. "There is always a special feeling when you go to Flanders. We have an outstanding team, and I think we can do equally well as last year when we finished on the podium twice. If you look at our selection, you see many names that could be in the final. And that makes a big difference if you want to fight for the podium."

Finally, Narváez, who already won the Tour Down Under in the past, also came close with an attack with Mathieu van der Poel in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. The Ecuadorian champion looks forward to his first European races for UAE Emirates-XRG. "If you can't enjoy the chaos of the classics, you're not enjoying cycling. You have to absorb that adrenaline as a cyclist."

Top talent Antonio Morgado will only be there on Saturday in the Omloop. His compatriot Rui Oliveira will replace him on Sunday in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.

Tim Wellens
Rune Herregodts
Florian Vermeersch
Nils Politt
Mikkel Bjerg
Jhonatan Narváez
Antonio Morgado (Omloop Het Nieuwsblad)
Rui Oliveira (Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne)