Bahrain Victorious Brace for Wind-Tested Sprint at Ronde van Brugge

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain Victorious will line up at today’s Ronde van Brugge, targeting a sprint finish while preparing for heavy wind and rain that could shape a far more selective race. The event, a reworked version of Brugge–De Panne, kicks off a key block of cobbled Classics ahead of the Tour of Flanders.

Starting and finishing in Brugge, the 202.9 km route begins at the historic Markt, heads south through Torhout, Wingene, and Beernem, then returns to the Brugge area for a decisive circuit phase. Riders will tackle a cobbled section on Brieversweg (1.3 km) and exposed sections along the Damse Vaart, where crosswinds are expected to create echelons and splits well before the finale.

Sports director Nikolas Maes stressed the challenges of the new course. “It’s a new parcours, so we don’t know exactly how the race will unfold, but it’s clear that the wind and rain will make it very hard,” he said. “These conditions usually create echelons, with the race opening up and coming back together repeatedly. It will be crucial to be attentive from the start and stay in the front group.”

Bahrain Victorious will target the sprint with experienced fast man Phil Bauhaus and in-form Zak Erzen, who recently finished sixth at GP Monseré. Oliver Stockwell and Kamil Gradek will protect the leaders early, while Alberto Bruttomesso, Daniel Skerl, and Attila Valter focus on positioning ahead of the key sectors.

Maes added: “We have the ambition to go for the sprint, but the harder the race becomes, the more difficult it will be to be there in the final. With Phil’s experience and Zak’s current form, we believe we can survive in a reduced group of around 20–25 riders.”