ProTeam Arnaud De Lie and teammates test on cobbles and plug streets
Lotto-Intermarché is organising three test days this week in preparation for the Spring Classics. “We’re working around three scenarios: Paris–Roubaix and its cobbles, Gent-Wevelgem and the famous plug streets, and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad slash Tour of Flanders with their climbs,” explains performance manager Aike Visbeek. These are three types of terrain that place huge demands on equipment, making testing essential. “Together with our technical partners and performance staff, we prepared these three test days thoroughly under the guidance of Head of Equipment Mikey van Kruiningen and coach Frederik Veuchelen. It’s a mix of training, reconnaissance and testing.”
With Paris–Roubaix already looming, Lotto-Intermarché has completed its first test day. Gent-Wevelgem is on the programme today. “Punctures and Paris-Roubaix unfortunately often go hand in hand. Especially after seeing the condition of the cobbles yesterday, we have to minimise that risk as much as possible", says Mikey van Kruiningen. Spoiler alert: Arnaud De Lie, Huub Artz, Cédric Beullens, Jenno Berckmoes and Toon Aerts all made it through the Hell of the North without a single puncture.
Tire pressure protocol
“We equipped our Orbea bikes with Oquo RP50 wheels. They’re very wide and perfectly suited for Roubaix. The main focus was to determine the maximum tyre width that fits our frames. Last season we rode 30 mm tyres; this time we tested the Vittoria Corsa Pro Control 32 mm, which effectively becomes 34 mm on that wide rim.”
Not only tyre width and wheels are crucial for Paris–Roubaix, tyre pressure is just as important. “A different width requires a different pressure than before. Vittoria advises us on this, after which we define a protocol including the starting pressure in Compiègne and the pressure riders will have when reaching Arenberg at the Forest of Wallers. The timing of these tests is no coincidence: we’re one month away from the Opening Weekend, which gives us the perfect window to make adjustments without stress if needed.”
Visbeek agrees: “Both Arnaud De Lie and Toon Aerts indicated that this setup gave them confidence to ride the muddy cobbled sectors at high speed. Huub Artz also rode through the Forest of Arenberg for the first time and was able to learn a lot from the experience of Cédric Beullens.”
Building confidence through equipment
Today, Lotto-Intermarché heads to the plug streets of Gent–Wevelgem. Tomorrow, Friday, the iconic climbs of the Opening Weekend and the Tour of Flanders are on the agenda. “There we’ll test the Vittoria Corsa Pro 30. It will be a long endurance ride and reconnaissance, the perfect conditions to assess whether the tyre is strong enough for the plug streets. At the same time, we’ll also test new equipment from Oquo. For the Tour of Flanders reconnaissance, we’ll start with the same setup. These test moments are invaluable: they provide our performance team with a wealth of data and, just as importantly, they build rider confidence.”
“In the coming days and weeks, further testing will follow, but it’s reassuring to see that the strategies developed over the winter are now being confirmed during these sessions. That can only boost motivation heading into the spring", Visbeek concludes.
