Premier Tech’s IPT Ready to Make Their Mark on the Opening Weekend
Israel – Premier Tech is gearing up for the highly anticipated ‘Opening Weekend’ in Belgium, with a team of motivated riders who are eager to showcase their abilities in the upcoming races.
“I’m confident that we have strong lineups for both races this weekend. I really believe in this group,” says sports director Dirk Demol, expressing his faith in the team.
On Saturday, the peloton will face the challenging Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, featuring iconic hills and cobble sections in Flanders. Sep Vanmarcke, the designated leader for IPT, has a special connection with this race. Vanmarcke, who won the race in 2012 and placed third two years ago, states, “I have a good connection with this race. I have won it in the past and I’ve also been on the podium several times. Hopefully, I can race at the front again on Saturday.”
Although Vanmarcke experienced a setback due to illness during the Vuelta a Andalucía, he is optimistic about his recovery, saying, “I got sick in Vuelta a Andalucía and I lost a few days of training, but I’m already feeling better again. I hope it’s enough and that I can be up there fighting with the best this weekend.”
For Sunday’s Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, IPT will bring in sprinting expertise with Giacomo Nizzolo, who finished second in the race in 2020 and fifth last year. Nizzolo, who has already demonstrated his speed in bunch sprints this season, is eagerly looking forward to the challenge ahead.
“I feel my shape is improving,” Nizzolo shares. “This is always a challenging race, and you never really know if you have to race as a sprinter or as a Classics rider. You may have to attack and invest a lot, or you can wait for the final sprint. It will be interesting to see what happens this year. In any case, I feel good and I’m looking forward to racing!”
The team’s lineup for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad includes Guillaume Boivin, Reto Hollenstein, Krists Neilands, Jens Reynders, Guy Sagiv, Tom Van Asbroeck, and Sep Vanmarcke. Meanwhile, the squad for Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne includes Guillaume Boivin, Giacomo Nizzolo, Jens Reynders, Guy Sagiv, Tom Van Asbroeck, Sep Vanmarcke, and Rick Zabel.
