Jasper Stuyven puts surprising Lidl-Trek teammate forward as Opening Weekend contender: "He will cause a surprise"

This weekend, Classics season truly gets underway with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne. One of those teams keen to get themselves onto the top step of the podium will be Lidl-Trek and according to Jasper Stuyven, there are numerous riders within the team capable of challenging for the win.

In terms of his teammates, Stuyven puts forward three standout names to keep an eye on. "Mathias Vacek is in very good shape. Jonathan Milan is the leader in Kuurne and then you also have our young Swede Jakob Söderqvist," explains Stuyven to Het Laatste Nieuws, raising the eyebrow a little with his selection of the Swedish youngster. Stuyven himself though is certain that the 21-year-old can already make a big impact. "He will cause a surprise. I would not be surprised if he makes a strong move in the coming weeks."

As for his own goals, the now 32-year-old former winner of both the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne is realistic about his ambitions for the coming Spring. "I still start in every classic with the ambition to win, but I realize that I am in a very strong generation," he admits. "It is not for nothing that Mathieu van der Poel can become the record holder in the Ronde. And then you have Tadej Pogacar, who drives away whenever he wants."

Although neither Pogacar nor Van der Poel are present at Opening Weekend, the former is especially busy this Spring. "When he announced his program with almost all the classics, that gave a twist to my ambitions. It's nice if you can compete with Pogacar, but you also see certain dreams being shattered by him," Stuyven analyses honestly. "Since 2016, I have been competing for the prizes in the classics and I am still capable of winning a classic. If I am not unlucky or make mistakes and am at my best, I know that I will ride in the final."