The main predictions that can be made about this race is that it will be very windy with chances of echelons at all stages. Usually a sprinters classics, wind of 30km/h indicates a different outcome for the race. Classic Brugge-De Panne 2023 preview for velogames gives as small indication as to who to follow in the race for the superclasico.
Classic Brugge-De Panne 2023
The profile is flat and wind strong enough to provide tailwind for echelons and peloton split is expected. Among the rain, winds and shenanigans, some teams and riders are legends to prevail in such conditions. Soudal- Quick-Step could finally have another winner othe than Tim Merlier while other some team unit block will be giving it all for one single man like Kooij, Ewan or Groenewegen.
Classic Brugge-De Panne 2023 preview for Velogames
- Jasper Philipsen,(Alpecin-Deceuninck) 26 : He goes excellently in the wind and has the team to protect him and back him up.
- Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal – Quick Step) 24: He is part of the best team here and the one with the most experience in cross winds. With some many other options, it will not be all about him.
- Caleb Ewan (Lotto Dstny) 24 : Another expert echelons rider, he just need not to crash in the rain.
- Arnaud Démare (Groupama – FDJ) 22 : Cold, wet and windy conditions are those were he flourish. After a hard Paris-Nice, this is perfect occasion for him to bounce back but he really did not show any form. His team would not mind using Paul Penoet as sprinter if needed.
- Yves Lampaert (Soudal – Quick Step) 22: If he gets a gap, there is no looking back for him.
- Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla) 22: He has Luka Mezgec to look after him and that is worth all the gold. He just need to follow the wheel of his man the whole day and be in the right group at the end.
- Sam Bennett, Jordi Meeus, Danny Van Poppel (BORA – hansgrohe) 20 : A real last man standing get his chance here with Danny Van Poppel the more independent sprinter.
- Pascal Ackermann (UAE Team Emirates) 18: His overall shape looks rather pleasant but surely he is not the fastest one here.
- Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché – Circus – Wanty) 18: His 2 wins this month is enough for his team to trust him. Will be interesting to follow in the winds.
- Sep Vanmarcke (Israel – Premier Tech) 18: His experience with the winds is rather average, more is needed for an 18 credit riders.
- Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) 18 : He was at the right end of things in UAE stage 1 echelons. He has all the support of the world here. Can he handle it at the end of a long hard day? I think he can
- Edward Theuns (Trek – Segafredo) 16 : He is experienced enough to know how to be perfectly place when needed. He rested will since his last race. He should be up there for his last chance to finally win a race for the classics and Mads Pedersen and Jasper Stuyven will soon be the main men.
- Davide Ballerini (Soudal – Quick Step) 16: He wil be back he finds himself in the right group and Jakobsen is absent.
- Simone Consonni (Cofidis) 16 : He is has really be constant in his sprint for the last year. But he needs to be perfectly placed this time.
- Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan Team) 16: He made it in the main echelons group in UAE wind. Using 16 credits on him without him winning a race yet this season is something else.
- Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain – Victorious) 16 : followed the right wheel and was in the right group in UAE as well. He did not have much left in the end though.
- Fernando Gaviria (Movistar Team) 16 : Team Movistar main and only chance of a good performance here
- Luca Mozzato (Team Arkéa Samsic) 14: In the absence of Wind, Bouhanni and Hofstetter, he would have been a perfec cheeky choice.
- Piet Allegaert (Cofidis) 14 : Very comfortable on cobbles, he would like to save some energy for Friday.
- Max Walscheid (Cofidis ) 14 : He is very powerful and will hope to be in the main group towards the end but that is a long shot from victory.
- Baptiste Planckaert (Intermarché – Circus – Wanty) 14 : another one getting ready for the cobbles though he would take his chance if offeres.
- Alberto Dainese , Sam Welsford (Team DSM) 14: Team DSM has assembled a really great sprint train here and would be bitting their nails when winds will throw all the plans away.
- Luka Mezgec (Team Jayco AlUla) 14: A really good echelons rider who wil be aiming to being Dylan Groenewegen with him. If not, he can go for the win himself.
- Jonathan Milan (Bahrain – Victorious) 14 : Not so much an obvious choice in the presence of Bauhaus and Rajovic.
- David Dekker (Team Arkéa Samsic) 12: will need a lot of support to be back to where he was.
- Juan Sebastian Molano ( Team UAE Emirates) 12: He is in an excellent shape and should tackle wind easily. Leadership at Team UAE is something nobody really understands though.
- Itamar Einhorn (Israel – Premier Tech0 12: He will be shouldering his team hopes and his 4th place at Milano -Torino shows that he can trusted.
- Cees Bol (Astana Qazaqstan Team) 12: So far, he has shown no willingness to take his chance when he is racing with Cavendish.
- Bert Van Lerberghe (Soudal – Quick Step) 10: He has been impressive working for Merlier. He will be Jakobsen last man most probably as Ballerini will be chasing his own chances.
- Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) 10: Uno-X best sprinting chance is more of a puncheur than an echelons rider but he is very likely to make it among the front group but he should also show a lot of resilience to stay up.
- Marijn Van Den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost) 10: the American team designated sprinter.
- Emīls Liepiņš (Trek – Segafredo) 8 : this man is really good echelons rider and will be well guided by Toms Skujins. Watch out as he will take his chance should Edward Theuns be absent.
- Paul Penhoët (Groupama – FDJ) 8 : He keeps provinh himself as he is associated with Demare for the first time. He will have his own chances.
- Mikkel Bjerg (UAE Team Emirates) 6: Excellent condition and good potential assist points.
- Samuel Watson (Groupama – FDJ) 6 : Could end up at the right end of things.
- Casper Van Uden (Team DSM) 6: A member of was expected to be a formidable train for team DSM. Could enjoy taking his chances.
- Lionel Taminiaux (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 6 : 4th at Bedene Koksijde.
- Tim Van Dijke (Jumbo-Visma) 6: Played his card very well to finish 2th GP Denain.
- Marius Mayrhofer (Team DSM) 4 : A lot of expectation was put upon his shoulder after his Australia exploit and we are still waiting for him to strike again.
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