Team Jayco AlUla will go all-in for Dylan Groenewegen at the one-day Classic Brugge-De Panne.
The flying Dutchman is a former winner of the race, taking victory back in 2019, and he came achingly close to another win in 2022 when the result had to be decided by a photo finish. Groenewegen already has a win in the bank this season and he was just centimetres away from victory at the recent Bredene Koksijde Classic, but is aiming to add more success onto his scorecard in Belgium.
Initially starting as a three-day race in the 1970s, the Classic Brugge De Panne has been a single day sprinters’ race since 2018. The course is largely flat, but racing in Belgium always brings the threat of crosswinds.
The three passages past De Moeren will be a particular threat and all teams will need to be alert to echelons.
Groenewegen will be backed up by a strong team that includes leadout men Luka Mezgec and Elmar Reinders. Max Walscheid, who is a former top-10 finisher at the Classic Brugge-De Panne, will link up with him for the first time this season.
Adding to the big engine room of the squad will be Kell O’Brien, Blake Quick, and Amund Grøndahl Jansen.
Team Jayco AlUla line-up:
Dylan Groenewegen (NED)
Amund Grøndahl Jansen (NOR)
Luke Mezgec (SLO)
Kell O’Brien (AUS)
Blake Quick (AUS)
Elmar Reinders (NED)
Max Walscheid (GER)
Dylan Groenewegen:
“I am looking forward to Brugge-De Panne and the upcoming races in Belgium this month. They should be hard races, but I am in good shape at the moment and I’m hoping to build on what I’ve done already this season. I look forward to getting some nice results with the team.”
Tristan Hoffman (Sport Director):
“With Dylan, we have one of the best sprinters in the world for De Panne. Two years ago, he was close to winning and he only missed it by a single centimetre so will be all in for Dylan in the sprint.
It can be a difficult race, though, and there could be some crosswinds and splits so we will have to make sure to protect Dylan. We also have some other strong guys that can be up there if there are crosswinds.”
Photo: Sprint Cycling
