OPQS to World Ports Classic

OPQS to World Ports Classic

Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team has announced the selection that will participate in World Ports Classic, a 356km two-day race on Friday, August 30th and Saturday, August 31st. OPQS returns to this race in its second year having won the first stage in 2012 with Tom Boonen, as well as the points classification and the general classification.

The stage directions are reversed from 2012. The race will be from Antwerp to Rotterdam on Friday for a total of 165km, and Rotterdam to Antwerp on Sunday for a total of 191km. It is a true sprinter's race, including the "race of the wind" on Saturday.

"The race will be difficult even if it's not difficult concerning the parcour," Sport Director Wilfried Peeters said. "The crosswind on Saturday's stage can always create a few problems during the race. So we have to be careful and try to use our skills also in the wind. We are a Belgian team who knows how to ride in this kind of situation. Concerning the riders for the sprint, we have Petacchi. But we also have a guy like Maes. Maes is sure to have good condition after a 7th place finish in the Vattenfall Cyclassics. Then, maybe Gert Steegmans is able to do really good things if we have to make action in the wind. The race will be also the first for Trentin after a long period of rest. This race is the 2nd part of the season for him. Even if he's not at 100 percent he is a rider able to play a role on this kind of parcour. The team is completed by Iljo Keisse who has done well in the past week, Stijn Vandenbergh, Bert Grabsch, and Niki Terpstra. We will do our best to get a top result."