race weekend in Flanders and Limburg

This Sunday AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step is at the start of one of the most prestigious races on the calendar: the Tour of Flanders or simply ‘De Ronde’ as the Flemish say. With start and finish in Oudenaarde the riders face 13 bergs including the iconic Oude Kwaremont-Paterberg duo and bone-rattling cobbled sectors.

Ally Wollaston (NZL), Mireia Benito (ESP), Justine Ghekiere (BEL), Romy Kasper (GER), Maud Rijnbeek (NED) and Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (RSA) will start the 156,6 kilometer long race at 1.30pm CET and it will be broadcasted around the world from 3pm CET.

“I hope to feel as good in Flanders this Sunday as I did in Gent-Wevelgem,” says Maud Rijnbeek, our youngest rider at just 20. “I was with the top ten on the Kemmelberg but then crashed out. My ribs are still a bit sore but I can’t wait to race an iconic race like the Tour of Flanders. It’s so unique with all the spectators and I am happy to be part of it again. In Flanders I hope to help Ashleigh as long as I can. I really feel I made a step up this winter with my new trainer Martijn and the fantastic team we have together.”

Ashleigh Moolman Pasio finished tenth in Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday and returns to ‘De Ronde’ for the first time since 2020. Her best result was a fourth place in 2018.

“We did a great recon on Thursday. The weather was typically Belgian with rain and wind but we were happy to ride because it’s important to do a recon here,” Ashleigh explains.” It’s good to familiarize yourself with the cobbles and bergs again. Flanders is the biggest classic of the year. There are so many people supporting us and that makes you want to dig even deeper on race day.”

Ashleigh starts her eighth Tour of Flanders but Romy trumps that by racing her 11^th! Mireia starts her fourth Ronde, Maud and Justine their second and Ally is our debutant.

“We had some setbacks because of injury and illness but we luckily have a full team together Sunday. We have a young team but with an experienced road captain in Romy. Justine is super motivated for her home race and strong after her bad luck in Dwars door Vlaanderen. I know she will be with me. Ally made a good transition to road on Wednesday. Maud is doing really well and is very talented. Finally, we have super teammate Mireia who wasn’t expecting to race Flanders but she is always motivated and strong. We are hungry to get that big result and I am confident we can have a good race and hope for luck to be on our side.”

Volta Limburg Classic

Our AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step U23 team faces a really wet day out on Saturday in the hills of Limburg at the Volta Limburg Classic. The line-up of the team led by Christian Kos is as follows: Maureen Arens (NED), Julia Grégoire (BEL), Julia Kopecky (CZE), Fien Masure (BEL), Yuli van der Molen (NED) and Eline van Rooijen (NED).

Maureen Arens looks forward to the 118,4-kilometers long race with some tough climbs. In total there is almost 1,000 metres of elevation.

“I am looking forward to Saturday despite the weather,” Maureen smiles. “It’s a fun course with a couple of the climbs we know in Limburg. Last year I felt good in this race and hope to have the same feeling again this weekend. It will undoubtedly be a hard race because of the weather but also because of the three WorldTour teams at the start line. We need to be focused. I hope to race attentively and hope that we get a good result as a team.”