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After starting his 2021 season in the Clasica de Almeria, Mark Cavendish will join his Deceuninck-QuickStep team for Le Samyn in Belgium on March 2 with 2019 winner Florian Sénéchal. Alvaro Hodeg is also set to return to Samyn after suffering an accident in Almeria.
The UCI 1.1 classified race is 205.4 km long and starts in Quaregnon, outside Mons in Walloon Belgium. It heads north for a round-trip loop before turning south to touch the French border, then heads to Dour, where the peloton will face four laps of a bumpy 26.6 km circuit that includes five stretches pebbles, the last less than five kilometers. from arrival uphill.
Cavendish’s debut with Deceuninck-QuickStep in Almeria was scuttled by a late puncture, and Le Samyn may not be the type of course to suit his style of racing. But the length of the race will provide the Manxman with precious race miles before he and the team tackle the Scheldeprijs, a race Cavendish has won three times (2007, 2008, 2011).
Sénéchal, Cavendish and Hodeg will be joined by Tim Declercq, Stijn Steels, Jannik Steimle and Bert Van Lerberghe.
“The GP Samyn is a very good race in which the weather can play an important role. It is very important to know where the race will come to life and where the most dangerous parts will be. We will start with a loop, then after 100 kilometers we will enter the local course, where the paved sections can make a big choice, ”said Deceuninck-QuickStep sporting director Rik Van Slycke.
“It will be very difficult for the race to come down to a massive sprint. We have a good team, with which we can play an important role.
“Florian has of course his eyes on this race, which he won two years ago, but we also have other options with Jannik, Alvaro and Mark. Cav is very motivated and really looking forward to it. Finally, we will decide. During the race which card we will play. “
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