ProTeam After cancelled Tre Valli Varesine: sports directors look ahead to the rest of the Italian campaign

No final showdown under the Italian sun at the moment. After a tough start at Coppa Bernocchi, riders faced a drenched edition of Tre Valli Varesine today. Race or no race? That was the question at the start, but after just 57 kilometers, it became clear that the Italian roads were too unsafe. The race was neutralized and then stopped, with riders quickly returning to their team buses.

However, there are still opportunities this week. Thursday brings GranPiemonte, with Florian Vermeersch leading the team. Sports director Dirk Demol commented, “Florian has been in good form for a while. Recovering after a bad crash is never easy, but since Denmark, he’s been improving in every race. Plus, we have a strong lineup with Alec Segaert and Harm Vanhoucke, who are both in good shape. I expect a sprint finish in Piemonte. There’s a climb at six kilometers from the finish, but it’s not very steep. I believe we’ll be able to fight for a good result on Thursday.”

Sunday marks Il Lombardia, the traditional final monument of the season. It seems that the Race of the Falling Leaves, as the historic Italian classic is also known, is likely to face unfavorable weather conditions as well. “We need to stay alert and hope that everyone is healthy for the start,” said Demol. “We don’t expect Il Lombardia to be an easy day. Unfortunately, Maxim Van Gils won’t be starting. He got sick after the World Championships in Zürich and still isn’t feeling great. We’re mainly hoping for a great day from Lennert Van Eetvelt. After some health issues in the Vuelta, he’s back. Lennert is known to surprise us, and we have Sylvian Moniquet to support him, with Harm Vanhoucke also capable of going far.”

This Italian chapter will officially close in Veneto, with the Giro del Veneto, Serenissima Gravel, and Veneto Classic. “For Giro del Veneto and Veneto Classic, we’re backing Jenno Berckmoes,” says sports director Tony Gallopin. “He’s motivated, still in good form, and I think the course suits him. He can compete for the win. For the gravel race, we have Florian Vermeersch, who already won here last year. With his second place at the World Championships last weekend, he’s shown he’s in top shape for a race like this. Let’s hope our riders can kick off their holidays with a few more strong results.”

Picture: PhotoNews