Team Jayco AlUla will kick-off their cobbled classics campaign with the traditional Belgian double-header of Omloop Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.
The squad will line-up with a strong mixture of youth and experience across the two races over a hectic weekend. After missing the classics opener last season, Kell O’Brien will be back on the cobbles on Saturday alongside Campbell Stewart, with the duo starting their first European races of the year.
New signings Bob Donaldson and Jelte Krijnsen will get their first taste of ‘Opening Weekend’, with the latter set to feature in both races alongside his countryman Elmar Reinders and fellow new recruit Jasha Sütterlin. Anders Foldager heads to Belgium off the back of strong hit out in Spain at the Ruta Del Sol and will start Saturday’s Omloop.
German powerhouse Max Walscheid will be looking to back up his strong UAE Tour performance in Sunday’s event, with Jesse Kramer making the step up from the Hagens Berman Jayco development team to complete the squad.
Team Jayco AlUla at Opening Weekend:
Bob Donadlson (GBR)*
Anders Foldager (DEN)*
Jesse Kramer (NED)**
Jelte Krijnsen (NED)
Kell O’Brien (AUS)*
Elmar Reinders (NED)
Campbell Stewart (NZL)*
Jasha Sütterlin (GER)
Max Walscheid (GER)**
(*Omloop only, **KBK only)
Jasha Sütterlin
“I’m feeling good, and I think I’m ready just in time for the classics season after sickness between Valenciana and Ruta Del Sol when I couldn’t train for one week. Towards the end of Ruta I was feeling great again and I’m happy how everything went all winter and all the races I did so far! Now it’s just few days until we start Opening Weekend!
I’m not really nervous about it, I’m just exited to do the cobbled classics again because I really missed it the last two years, so I’m super exited. Most of all I’m already looking forward to Flanders and Roubaix, they are the Queen of classics. If everything goes right, we can go for a really great result there, but of course it would already be super nice having some top results starting this week at Opening Weekend.”
Mat Hayman (Sports Director):
“‘Opening Weekend’, it’s in the name, it’s the first time back on the cobbles in Belgium and we’re really looking forward to getting back up there with this group. We’ve got some new guys on the team, but also some guys that have been with the team for many years.
Most of the guys know what to expect in Belgium, but it’s always a shock to the system when you go up there for the first time, so it’s a good opportunity to really get some hard racing.”
2025 Opening Weekend – Race Details:
Sat 1st Mar, Omloop Nieuwsblad (197km)
Sun 2nd Mar, Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne (196.9km)
Photo: Sprint Cycling
