Kasper Asgreen and Fabio Jakobsen lead Opening Weekend assault

Soudal - Quick-Step used to be a dominant figure of the spring classics. Over the last few years they've struggled to achieve the same results, but as the 2023 spring campaign starts, the Belgian team has ambitious leaders for the Opening Weekend.

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad will have the trio of Kasper Asgreen, Yves Lampaert and Florian Sénéchal debut on another campaign together. Former race winner Davide Ballerini and Figueira Champions Classic winner Casper Pedersen will be two more options, in a team that has the cards to race aggressively towards the end.

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“The Opening Weekend is one of the season’s special moments. We meet the amazing Belgian fans, we get to experience the incredible atmosphere that only the classics can produce, and we finally take on the cobbles," team DS Wilfred Peeters said. "For Saturday, we can look to Ballerini, but also Asgreen or Pedersen, who showed nice things in Portugal, and Sénéchal will give us some good options. On Sunday, Fabio will be motivated to repeat last year’s victory, and we hope to be again in the mix and fight for the win."

For Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne the quintet will also aim for victory, but instead of having Tim Declercq and Jannik Steimle alongside, they have Stan van Tricht and European Champion Fabio Jakobsen present. Here the Dutch sprinter will have good chances of fighting for a victory. Jakobsen is last year's winner in the Belgian classic and he will be a big favourite.

Soudal - Quick-Step for Omloop het Nieuwsblad: Kasper Asgreen, Davide Ballerini, Tim Declercq, Yves Lampaert, Casper Pedersen, Florian Sénéchal and Jannik Steimle.

Soudal - Quick-Step for Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne: Kasper Asgreen, Davide Ballerini, Fabio Jakobsen, Yves Lampaert, Casper Pedersen, Florian Sénéchal and Stan van Tricht.