In all the newspaper pages and television clips this week devoted to the build-up to the Tour of Flanders, there's one word that has been written and spoken more than any other: Quick-Step.
The Belgian team have made themselves the number one theme of the 2018 cobbled classics, with six victories from seven races on Belgian soil over the past couple of weeks: Le Samyn, Dwars door West Vlaanderen, Handzame Classic, De Panne, E3 Harelbeke and Dwars door Vlaanderen.
It's not just the fact they've racked up so many wins but the manner of the wins. They went one-two at Le Samyn and E3, on both occasions splitting the race and placing almost their whole team at the front. Even at the one they didn't win, Gent-Wevelgem, they had four riders in the front group.
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So while all other teams line up for Flanders with at most one clear candidate, Quick-Step Floors have no fewer than four, in Niki Terpstra, Philippe Gilbert, Yves Lampaert and Zdenek Stybar. That's why, when asked who they saw as the favourite for Sunday, TIesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal) and Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) both opted against giving the name of a rider and instead simply said: "Quick-Step".
The Belgian team were certainly revelling in their 'favourite status' as they gathered for their pre-Flanders press conference on Friday evening. "We did pretty well in the last races, so for sure it's over to us," said a nonchalant Terpstra.
So, with Quick-Step set to be the tactical pivot on Sunday, Cyclingnews spoke to a few team managers and directors to find out how they see things playing out.
Fabio Baldato (DS, BMC Racing)
Ralph Denk (Manager, Bora-Hansgrohe)
Jonathan Vaughters (Manager, EF Education First-Drapac)
Servais Knaven (DS, Team Sky)
Paolo Bettini (Former world champion)
Patrick Lefevere (Manager, Quick-Step Floors)
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tour-of-flanders-tactics-how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-quick-step
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