Vincenzo Albanese: “I’ve always dreamed of these races”.

“E3 and Ghent-Wevelgem often mark the start of what is known in Flanders as “Holy Week”. In other words, over the next few days, the cobbled classics, known as the Flandriennes, will follow one another, with an almost religious fervor among the Belgians massed along the roadsides. The E3 Grand Prix, which takes place on Friday, is often compared to a “mini” Tour of Flanders, and it’s true that it’s a sort of “life-size general introduction to the event”. Our main card will be Luca Mozzato, who recently shone on Flemish soil. Ghent-Wevelgem, contested on Sunday, has often been a classic for sprinters. It’s a bit more open this year, with riders who have given the event more movement, thanks in particular to the introduction of paths. But a sprint is never out of the question in this classic, which attracts many teams who come to the start in Ghent every year with their sprinters. As part of the ARKEA – B&B HOTELS team, we’ll have Arnaud Demare’s card at our disposal, but we’ll also have other trump cards at our disposal if the race gets a little more wild”.