ProTeam Florian Vermeersch looks ahead to E3 Saxo Classic: “Just like in the previous races, we at Lotto Dstny want to leave our mark”

After the Classic Brugge-De Panne on Wednesday, Lotto Dstny is preparing for the next race on the Belgian spring Classic list: E3 Saxo Classic. For many years, this one-day race on WorldTour level has been a good test towards the Ronde van Vlaanderen and this year is no different.

The course of the E3 Saxo Classic has barely changed. In just over 200 kilometres of racing, the peloton will face 17 hills and several cobbled sectors. At 40 kilometres from the line, the iconic duo Paterberg-Oude Kwaremont will shape the race even more towards its decisive scenario.

Lotto Dstny can count on a strong seven-man team that wants to leave its mark on the race. Jarrad Drizners, Pascal Eenkhoorn, Sébastien Grignard, Arjen Livyns, Michael Schwarzmann, Brent Van Moer and Florian Vermeersch will be at the start for the Belgian ProTeam. Florian Vermeersch will race the E3 Saxo Classic for the second time in his career. The 24-year-old has recovered from a crash at Bredene Koksijde Classic and now targets a nice performance at the E3 Prijs.

Florian Vermeersch: “The E3 Saxo Classic is a race that’s close to my heart and after a year of absence, I’m really happy to be back at the start in Harelbeke. Of course the crash at Bredene Koksijde Classic was far from ideal but luckily the consequences were limited and now I’m ready to race again.”

Vermeersch previews the race scenario of E3, in which he finished 16^th last year.

“I expect quite a traditional E3 Prijs, meaning that we need to be attentive on the traditional important points in the race. Just like in the past Classic Brugge-De Panne we want to leave a mark on the race and go on the offensive. This is how we like to race at Lotto Dstny and that won’t be different in the coming period. Of course we will miss Victor Campenaerts in the upcoming Classics as he is a rider that can really make an impact on the race. But within Lotto Dstny, we still have plenty of cards to play who have already proven their good shape. We are really motivated to show us in the biggest spring Classics”, concludes Florian Vermeersch.

Image: Photo News.