ProTeam Alec Segaert kicks off the season in Spain today and looks ahead to the classics
A season opener under the radiant Spanish sun: you could do worse—especially after exams in a dreary Belgium. Alec Segaert is eager for his first competitive weekend. Following the unfortunate withdrawal of team leader Arnaud De Lie after a crash during training earlier this week, the seven-member Lotto Cycling Team has had to reshuffle its strategy, but motivation remains high. “Castellón has a climb 15 kilometers from the finish that takes about ten minutes,” Segaert previews. “It’s nothing super steep, so a group of forty or fifty riders will likely survive and sprint for the win. Sunday will definitely be tougher, more suited to Jenno Berckmoes. If I’m having a good day, I can make it over the Coll de Rates and set him up.”
Segaert will use the Gran Premio Castellón and the Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana to get his first competitive feeling in preparation for the spring classics. “After this, I’ll head to altitude training in Tenerife, where all the race-specific training will really start. But it’s more fun to race and suffer a bit now rather than waiting until after the altitude camp. This weekend is perfect for building rhythm. After that, it’s time for the Flemish races. I hope to take another step forward there—getting stronger, building explosiveness… I want to be competitive in the semi-classics, where I’ve already shown I can hold my own. I’ll start with Kuurne, then Le Samyn, Denain, E3, and also the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.”
The team’s race tactics will undergo a significant shake-up this season after the departure of several key riders from the spring lineup. “That also creates opportunities for me,” says Segaert. “I’ll get to save myself more for the finales. With Arnaud and Jenno as our key players, we still have a strong team with plenty of chances to win. If Jenno takes another step forward this season, he could be a tough competitor in a lot of races.”
Picture: PhotoNews
