Visma | Lease a Bike has little time to regroup after the E3 Saxo Classic, as Gent-Wevelgem, the next major spring race, is already on the agenda for Sunday. The Dutch team will have to compete without the sick defending champion Christophe Laporte and Wout van Aert, the duo that completely dominated the race last year and crossed the finish line together.
Moreover, their nemesis Mathieu van der Poel is present this year in the capital of East Flanders. Along with Jasper Philipsen, the Alpecin-Deceuninck squad may even look stronger. Visma | Lease a Bike had an absolute day of misfortune on Friday in the E3. Early in the race, Per Strand Hagenes broke his nose, Dylan van Baarle suffered a puncture at the worst possible moment after a crash (right before the foot of the Taaienberg, where the race exploded, ed.), and Van Aert also crashed on the Paterberg.
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Laporte is not yet fully fit and thus cannot participate in Gent-Wevelgem. He is replaced by Edoardo Affini. Due to his broken nose, Per Strand Hagenes will also not start, with Jan Tratnik stepping in as his replacement. The Slovenian rode an anonymous E3, finishing 32nd, more than four minutes behind Van der Poel.
The main spearhead will likely be Olav Kooij, though it remains to be seen if the Dutch sprinter can handle the numerous climbs. With Tiesj Benoot and Tratnik, the Dutch squad has two other cards to play, while the Van Dijke brothers, Mick and Tim, Affini, and Tosh van der Sande will have more supportive roles.
Visma | Lease a Bike lineup for Gent-Wevelgem 2024
Olav Kooij
Edoardo Affini
Mick van Dijke
Tosh van der Sande
Tiesj Benoot
Tim van Dijke
Jan Tratnik
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