Fernando Gaviria and Alexander Kristoff will spearhead UAE Team Emirates’ charge for glory at Gent-Wevelgem (March 31), with the pair looking to pick up one-day race honours in Belgium.
Gaviria has looked in fine fettle since joining the Emirati formation for the 2019 UCI WorldTour season, and secured a podium finish in his most recent outing at Driedaagse Brugge-De Panne.
Meanwhile, Kristoff continues to be a driving force for the team as one of their most experienced and accomplished riders. Joining the sprint duo will be Simone Consonni, Marco Marcato, Ivo Oliveira, Norwegian national champion Vegard Stake Laengen and compatriot Sven Erik Bystrom.
Considered as a Belgian classic for the sprinters, Gent-Wevelgem will see riders embark on a tough 251.5km route through the Flanders Fields. While the distance provides its own test, it’s the riding and weather conditions which can have a bigger impact on how this race is played out.
With ten steep climbs across cobbled and unpaved roads, riders face a difficult day at the saddle – particularly in the final 30km where the wind has the potential to play a significant factor in the outcome of the race.
But should riders have luck on their side, a thrilling sprint finish could be in store to end another epic day of racing in Belgium.
