Numbers were pinned for the last time on Saturday March 14th, on the occasion of the final stage of Paris-Nice towards Colmiane-Valdeblore. Circus-Wanty Gobert-Tormans will come back in competition next Sunday at the kermesse race in Rotselaar. The sanitary measures related to the corona virus were relaxed in Belgium, making the restart of competition officially possible since the 1st of July.
Circus-Wanty Gobert-Tormans will take the opportunity to participate at the GP Vermarc, together with all other Belgian professional teams and some semi professional and amateur teams. A selection of eight riders will come back in competition, before taking the road towards the Charleroi and Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure region for a one week team training camp. Jan Bakelants, Alfdan De Decker, Wesley Kreder, Maurits Lammertink, Corné van Kessel, Boy and Danny van Poppel and Pieter Vanspeybrouck will appear at the start line, under the direction of Hilaire Van der Schueren and Steven De Neef.
Hilaire Van der Schueren:
« Those 160 kilometer will be behind our back fast, I expect a high pace! I’m happy to return back to racing, it will do good for our riders after the many consecutive training sessions. On Sunday, a lot will become clear about how the riders went through this strange period. This important information will serve us to optimize the individual training schedules for the upcoming weeks. We want to be ready at the 1st of August! »
Jan Bakelants:
« I finished the lockdown like I started it: with an altitude training camp with teammate Quinten Hermans. My last race was the Ruta del Sol mid February, so it’s been a while since I pinned numbers for the last time. I’m more than happy to have the opportunity to race again after this long training period! It will be a good test, I’ll learn about my progress in the build-up towards the start of the international season. I train often in the region of this nice course, and I’m expecting a great race! »
Danny van Poppel:
« The release of the new UCI calendar was important for me, because it enabled me to train towards goals again. The restart of competition on the 5th of July, one month earlier than planned, is a bonus. I really enjoyed the efforts during our first team training on the roads of the Ronde van Vlaanderen, and I’m expecting the same next Sunday. I couldn’t wait to increase the intensity again! »
Selection GP Vermarc:
Bakelants Jan
De Decker Alfdan
Kreder Wesley
Lammertink Maurits
Van Kessel Corné
Van Poppel Boy
Van Poppel Danny
Vanspeybrouck Pieter
Sportive direction:
De Neef Steven
Van der Schueren Hilaire
