"I would have preferred to keep the finale as it was, that lap doesn't really add value" - Maxim van Gils about change Strade Bianche profile

Despite being a traditional sprints/classics team, Lotto Dstny have been flying uphill from the start of this year too. That was mainly thanks to two youngsters - Lennert Van Eetvelt and Maxim Van Gils. The latter talked to In de Leiderstrui about his ambitions ahead of the Strade Bianche.

"I think Strade Bianche is a very nice race, although you have to be a bit lucky with flat tires or other bad luck. I usually don't enjoy exploring a race very much, but I had a great time on Thursday. A very nice route, and in the race it is always an open race, from far away."

"I haven't competed in a race over 200 kilometers yet this year, but I have always been quite good over the last two seasons. I think it's good that this race has become a bit longer, because I was just good in races like Milan-Sanremo, Liège and Lombardia. I always have to warm up a bit in the beginning and it takes one and a half to two hours to really have full strength. I should be awake for Monte Sante Marie, yes."

According to the Belgian, the extra-lap in the final was not the best organisers' decision. "It's not really an addition, they would have been better off adding fifteen kilometers somewhere in the beginning. I would have preferred to keep the finale as it was, that lap doesn't really add value. Nevertheless, there will be hard racing and it will hurt."