Fausto Masnada to lead Quick-Step at Volta a Catalunya

As the team struggle through illnesses that have taken several of their main cards out of Milano-Sanremo, many of the riders who will be at the Ardennes classics supporting Julian Alaphilippe will be gearing up their engines in Catalunya, with Fausto Masnada in the leading seat.

As the World Tour cobbled classics period starts over in Belgium, Spain will be a secondary focus for the Belgian team. The mountainous race in northeastern Spain usually provides several opportunities for the climbers to succeed, aswell as breakaway possibilities which may favour the team here as they aren't likely to be targeting the podium. Fausto Masnada and Ilan van Wilder will be eyeing the overall classification, with the Italian the likely leader seeing his improvement over the last year. Andrea Bagioli, Dries Devenyns, Pieter Serry and Louis Vervaeke are all strong puncheurs and climbers who should enjoy the hilly terrain that is to be faced in the seven-day stage-race.

Team DS Geert van Bondt who will be guiding the team throughout the week has shared his thoughts regarding ambitions: “We have quite a strong team for the Volta a Catalunya, featuring several riders who can go for a good result. As always, there will be a lot of climbing next week, especially on stages three and four – which will be the most important for the general classification – but there should be some opportunities also for breakaways and bunch sprints, and for the latter, we have Ethan, who can try to get involved. Concerning the overall standings, Fausto and Ilan will be our two guys, they come here with a lot of motivation and confidence”

Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl for Volta a Catalunya: Fausto Masnada, Andrea Bagioli, Dries Devenyns, Pieter Serry, Ilan van Wilder, Ethan Vernon and Louis Vervaeke.