Bahrain - Victorious backing Matej Mohoric & Fred Wright for Opening Weekend success: "They’ve already shown they work well together"

Across the peloton, teams are preparing themselves for Opening Weekend, filled with hopes and dreams for what could await at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne. If Bahrain - Victorious are to be successful, a lot rests on the shoulders of leadership duo Matej Mohoric and Fred Wright.

“I think we’ve done a great job since December, ticking all the boxes in preparation for these races. We’ve tested equipment, completed recons, and the riders have shown great dedication throughout the winter," previews sports director Michal Golas in a press release on the team's official website. "Hopefully, all the hard work pays off. Our performances in previous races have proven that we’re in good shape and ready to be competitive here."

As mentioned, much of the team's hopes and expectations lay on the shoulders of Matej Mohoric and Fred Wright. "They’ve already shown they work well together, and I hope they can deliver a strong result on Saturday," analyses Golas, confident in his leaders chances. "As the first Classic of the season, it will be a tough and stressful race with extra tension in the peloton, so we need to stay focused and avoid potential issues early on. Our support riders— Roman Ermakov, Matevž Govekar, and Kamil Gradek—will play a crucial role in protecting our leaders through the initial phase. Andrea Pasqualon will also be key in helping us during the middle section of the race, ensuring we stay in a strong position before the decisive moments."

"Once we reach this phase, the race will start to take shape, and we’ll need to be ready to race aggressively, following attacks and responding to key moves," Golas adds. "The final selection will likely happen on the Muur and Bosberg, where we expect Matej, Fred, and Robert Stannard to be in contention for a strong result.”

“For Kuurne, it’s a different scenario, as we have a rider taking on their first Classic. Vlad Van Mechelen will make his classics debut, and I know he’s highly motivated to prove his talent. He’s already demonstrated his abilities, and I believe he will be a great support for the team. Alberto Bruttomesso also joins the team and will be looking to build from his experience last year and support the leaders," Golas continues, casting an eye towards Sunday. "Govekar gives us a good option if it comes down to a reduce bunch sprint. However, we anticipate a tough middle section, where many teams will try to force a selection."

"Matej, Fred, and Robert will need to be alert to follow the key moves. Pasqualon will again be important in helping us maintain position and react to attacks," the DS concludes. "This race will be a battle between the fast finishers and the aggressive riders aiming for a long-range attack. Fortunately, we have strong options for both scenarios, giving us a great chance to secure good results this weekend.”

Matej Mohoric
Fred Wright
Matevz Govekar
Andrea Pasqualon
Kamil Gradek
Roman Ermakov
Robert Stannard

Matej Mohoric
Fred Wright
Matevz Govekar
Andrea Pasqualon
Robert Stannard
Alberto Bruttomesso
Vlad Van Mechelen