Tim Merlier defends title in Bredene-Koksijde Classic

Whether it will turn into a bunch sprint again is, as always, in the hands of the riders, but the wind between Bredene and Koksijde can also cause a lot of nervousness and trouble in the large group.

Change in course

The course of the Bredene-Koksijde Classic underwent a slight change. The start will again be given to the Staf Versluys Event Center in Bredene instead of from the Sports Center Ter Polder. This is because the corona measures now allow an organization with the public and the much-needed VIPs.

After the starting signal in Bredene, they head inland to Gistel, Middelkerke, Nieuwpoort and Diksmuide. Via Ypres it goes to the Heuvelland where after an 84 kilometer course with the Monteberg the first slope of the day is started. Then it is the turn of the Kemmelberg, Scherpenberg, Monteberg, Kemmelberg and the Rodeberg. From there it goes to De Moeren to start the three local laps of 11.8 kilometers each on and around the Ter Duinenlaan of Koksijde after 167 kilometers. Despite the hill zone and the passage on De Moeren, the chance that a bunch sprint will come again is very high.

Sprinter on the move?

Various participating teams come down to Bredene with their sprinters. Tim Merlier tops at Alpecin-Fenix. Arnaud De Lie, who just turned 20, is the quick man at Lotto Soudal, where Victor Campenaerts is also on the list. Gerben Thijssen is the sprinter on duty at Intermarché-Wanty Gobert. Ethan Vernon and Bert Van Lerberghe are that at Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl. Pascal Ackermann, winner in 2019, will start at UAE Team Emirates.

Cofidis can count on the recent winner of the GP Denain, Max Walscheid. The German was second on Wednesday after Tim Merlier in Nokere Koerse. Cees Bol tops at Team DSM and Hugo Hofstetter does at Arkéa-Samsic. However, the quick Frenchman fell in Nokere and is licking his wounds. 2017 winner Kristoffer Halvorsen will be present at UNO-X Pro and regional rider Timothy Dupont will spearhead Bingoal-Pauwels Sauces. After 200 kilometers we know the successor of former Belgian champion Tim Merlier.