OPQS to Paris-Tours

OPQS to Paris-Tours

Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team has announced the selection that will take part in 238km Paris-Tours on Sunday. While there are no categorized climbs, there are some rolling sections and in the last kilometers, riders will ascend the Cote de Beau Soleil and the Cote de l'Epan. The final climb descends into a flat finish.

"Historically, the Paris-Tours is a race for sprinters," explains Rick Van Slycke, Sports Director. "Even if the final has some short kickers in rapid succession, the parcour is well suited for attacks that could upset the strategies of the teams with sprinters. Our team is staffed with athletes who can be major players in either a sprinting arrival or a tense final, with attacks and counter-attacks. The wind is also usually a factor, especially in the case of foul weather or in the case of attacks far from the finish line. The guys are motivated and prepared to do their best. Our objective is to make it into the final with 4 or 5 athletes and then decide our strategy according to how the race develops."

Guillaume Van Keirsbulck will not be starting on Sunday. The young Belgian rider from OPQS, who was enjoying a period of top form, will not be able to take part in the race due to a fall last Sunday during the last stage in the Franco-Belge. In addition to a series of bruises and scrapes suffered in the fall, Van Keirsbulck also had a cut to his right calf at the level of his Achilles tendon, which required seven stitches. Florian Senechal has been selected to replace him for Paris-Tours.