{"id":1862714,"date":"2026-04-02T11:19:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T08:19:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1862714"},"modified":"2026-04-02T11:19:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T08:19:50","slug":"we-lost-three-experienced-riders-and-replaced-them-with-really-young-riders-can-lidl-treks-changed-classics-core-do-enough-for-mads-pedersen-at-the-tour-of-flanders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1862714","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;We lost three experienced riders, and replaced them with really young riders&#8217; \u2013 Can Lidl-Trek&#8217;s changed Classics core do enough for Mads Pedersen at the Tour of Flanders?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LsHmBtnTxiYK3jFBQJLi7S-1024-80.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<li>\nLidl-Trek\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;We lost three experienced riders, and replaced them with really young riders&#8217; \u2013 Can Lidl-Trek&#8217;s changed Classics core do enough for Mads Pedersen at the Tour of Flanders?<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\nFeatures<\/p>\n<div class=\"text-[13px]\"><span><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nMatilda Price <\/span><span><br \/>\npublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-04-02T11:19:50Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n2 April 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Look back a year or two ago, and Lidl-Trek men&#8217;s Classics team was as hard to get into as some squads&#8217; Tour de France line-ups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"mx-auto mb-4 flex items-center justify-start mx-0 my-5 p-0\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-700 mb-2 text-[12px] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-gray-700 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LsHmBtnTxiYK3jFBQJLi7S-1024-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LsHmBtnTxiYK3jFBQJLi7S-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LsHmBtnTxiYK3jFBQJLi7S-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LsHmBtnTxiYK3jFBQJLi7S-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LsHmBtnTxiYK3jFBQJLi7S-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LsHmBtnTxiYK3jFBQJLi7S-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LsHmBtnTxiYK3jFBQJLi7S-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><figcaption class=\"mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text\">2026 Dwars Door Vlaanderen: Mads Pedersen (r) and Mathias Vacek (c) lead the Lidl-Trek string<\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"!m-0\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 sm:ml-1.5 font-base text-xs\">0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div role=\"dialog\" class=\"hidden fixed inset-0 z-[999999999999999999] bg-[#33333370] flex items-center justify-center p-6 newsletter-modal\" data-batch-endpoint=\"https:\/\/newsletter-subscribe.futureplc.com\/v2\/submission\/submit_batch\" data-batch-source=\"302\" data-component-name=\"Newsletter:Modal\">\n<div class=\"bg-neutral-100 rounded-xl shadow-xl w-full lg:w-2\/3 xl:w-1\/2 p-6 relative max-h-[95vh] overflow-y-auto\">\n<div id=\"newsletter-capture-modal\">\n<div class=\"sm:text-xl text-base font-bold text-black mb-3 p-0 bg-inherit font-ui-heading\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<p class=\"text-gray-600 mb-4 text-sm sm:text-base font-article-copy\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<div data-component-name=\"Newsletter:NewsletterForm\">\n<hr class=\"modal_hr mt-3 mb-4 h-px bg-gray-300 border-0\">\n<div class=\"modal_footer block text-left opacity-80 text-[.8em] leading-[1.3em] mt-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-article-copy\">\nBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-modal-confirmation\" class=\"hidden\">\n<p class=\"sm:text-xl text-base font-bold text-black mb-3 p-0\">You are now subscribed<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-600 mb-4 text-sm sm:text-base\">Your newsletter sign-up was successful<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsletter-modal-confirmation__userlogin\" class=\"hidden\">\n<hr class=\"my-5 h-px bg-gray-300 border-0\">\n<div class=\"items-start flex flex-col h-full justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flcw-text pb-5 pt-2 leading-[1.3]\"> An account already exists for this email address, please log in.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-71a3c886-d5ab-4ae0-ba91-45c455bcc8f5\">Mads Pedersen, Jasper Stuyven, Tim Declerq, Toms Skuji\u0146\u0161, Edward Theuns, and a fairly locked-in rotation of riders like Otto Vergaerde, Daan Hoole and Mathias Vacek. They would speak of trust, unity and experience, riding as a unit built over several years and many races, and that strength was reflected on the road.<\/p>\n<p>Fast forward to 2026, however, and a number of team changes and badly-timed illnesses means that Lidl-Trek men&#8217;s squad have been shuffling through various iterations during the cobbled Classics so far. When it comes to their potential line-up for the Tour of Flanders on Sunday, for example, there isn&#8217;t that obvious core squad that there used to be, rather a jigsaw involving drafting in the strongest options from a younger, less experienced cast of riders.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-71a3c886-d5ab-4ae0-ba91-45c455bcc8f5-2\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">It&#8217;s of course far from unusual for teams to rotate line-ups during the Classics, nor odd to see young riders getting their starts. But Lidl-Trek&#8217;s close-knit cobbles line-up has definitely been one of their key assets over the last years and this spring they&#8217;re without a big chunk of that foundational component of the team.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"article-continues-below block py-2 text-sm\">Article continues below <\/span><\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have the makings of a great Tour of Flanders team, but is Remco Evenepoel the missing piece for taking on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel?<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Tadej Poga\u010dar has changed E3 Saxo Classic&#8217;s status but it remains the best Flanders form guide \u2013 A closer look at the contenders for Friday&#8217;s race<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BKgqTUwnbwydCuUCg6jKWJ-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BKgqTUwnbwydCuUCg6jKWJ-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">B\u00e4ckstedt, Scaroni, and beyond \u2013 Riders on the verge of a breakthrough this Spring Classics season<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Jasper Stuyven departed the team for Soudal-QuickStep over the winter, Daan Hoole went to Decathlon CMA CGM, and Tim Declerq retired. Losing those three was significant enough, but then serious illness in Paris-Nice also ruled Toms Skuji\u0146\u0161 out of the whole spring.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Suddenly, of the seven-rider team that helped Mads Pedersen to a runner-up spot in Flanders last year, only three are here in Belgium this time round.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Lidl-Trek did of course make some replacement signings over the winter, but a lot of their budget likely went in the direction of star acquisition Juan Ayuso, rather than like-for-like Classics replacements &#8211; not that there is realistically any substitute for a rider like Jasper Stuyven.<\/p>\n<p>New arrivals Max Walscheid and Mathias Norsgaard have been drafted into the Classics line-up, but the team has also looked to much younger riders, like Jakob S\u00f6derqvist and Tim Torn Teutenberg, which naturally gives their formation a different shape. It says a lot that while Mathias Vacek was the rookie last year, he&#8217;s now one of the most experienced components for these races.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-WinoWpcGLNgUc2MqnCw6hf\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-WinoWpcGLNgUc2MqnCw6hf slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Starting the year, there wasn&#8217;t any initial concern over the team&#8217;s strength for this Classics season, but the first races soon opened up a conversation about what the team would need to do for the bigger events to come.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We did only Opening Weekend before there was this discussion, because in Opening Weekend it was not super good, for different reasons, a bit of bad luck, and then we didn&#8217;t have any results,&#8221; Lidl-Trek DS Gr\u00e9gory Rast told <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> earlier this week, before admitting that the team have been lacking the numbers and effectiveness of previous years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#8220;Now with the first race in E3, we were not there with numbers which we were in the past, and we didn&#8217;t really nail the run-in to the most important points. But nevertheless, we still had two guys up there, when in the past we had probably three.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nV6EeTstsrSed7sBoahJ9a-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nV6EeTstsrSed7sBoahJ9a-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">The cobbled Classics storylines we&#8217;re looking forward to \u2013 From Van der Poel and Poga\u010dar on the cusp of history to a different Demi Vollering and a resurgent Mads Pedersen<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Van der Poel, Van Aert lead challenge against Poga\u010dar, but can debutant Evenepoel spoil the party in rare matchup? \u2013 Analysing the favourites for the men&#8217;s Tour of Flanders<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vBNXAKbEraoHuCuwKXcZ2M-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vBNXAKbEraoHuCuwKXcZ2M-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">&#8216;A trial by fire&#8217; &#8211; George Hincapie&#8217;s Modern Adventure hope team spirit will make up for lack of Classics experience as their cobbled debut at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne approaches<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">That&#8217;s been plain to see, so there was really no other way to assess the situation so far in E3, In Flanders Fields and Dwars door Vlaanderen, but that doesn&#8217;t mean it was unexpected for Lidl-Trek.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#8220;I mean, it&#8217;s not a huge surprise, because to replace a rider like Jasper Stuyven is not easy,&#8221; Rast said. &#8220;I think we give the chance to young riders now, they need to learn, and they will step in, hopefully soon.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-7600903d-8aed-4925-8914-4cbf20aca556\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UPWTLEPmdr8VPWeUHViyrf-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UPWTLEPmdr8VPWeUHViyrf-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UPWTLEPmdr8VPWeUHViyrf-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UPWTLEPmdr8VPWeUHViyrf-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UPWTLEPmdr8VPWeUHViyrf-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UPWTLEPmdr8VPWeUHViyrf-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Lidl-Trek at 2025 Paris-Roubaix: Jasper Stuyven, now with Soudal-QuickStep, waves at the crowd pre-race <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-7a028f0d-2794-4821-9f31-04379773354f\">Those young riders who have been drafted in, notably S\u00f6derqvist and Teutenberg, are very strong riders, even for what they lack in experience. The Swede is the reigning under-23 time trial world champion, whilst Teutenberg is a winner of Paris-Roubaix U23. The latter has finished all the Classics he&#8217;s started this year, peaking with 12th in Ronde van Brugge, whilst S\u00f6derqvist was DNF in Ronde van Brugge and Dwars door Vlaanderen.<\/p>\n<p>Relying on riders like these two is clearly a different proposition to the veterans they&#8217;ve counted on before, but Rast is facing that with pragmatism rather than disappointment.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;At the moment of course it&#8217;s realistic, we have riders like Tim Teutenberg, he&#8217;s young, he needs to learn the Classics, and Jakob S\u00f6derqvist as well, so this a bit the difference,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We lost three really experienced riders, and we replaced them with really young riders, so it&#8217;s not really surprising.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>As a result of this morphed core, and indeed Pedersen&#8217;s long hiatus with injury, Lidl-Trek&#8217;s approach to these Classics have been different. With their younger riders less able to make it deep into the race, the team have focused on doing work earlier, when their riders can still be there, and gambling a bit more later on.<\/p>\n<p>So far, the results have been positive, particularly considering Pedersen&#8217;s condition, saying himself that he&#8217;s lacking that top-level punch after primarily seated training with a broken wrist in the last few weeks. We haven&#8217;t seen Skuji\u0146\u0161 shepherding Pedersen into the final 50km, for example, but the Dane has adapted well, all the same and ridden to fourth, ninth and tenth in his 2026 one-day races to date.<\/p>\n<p>Is there anything major that&#8217;s a challenge for the team right now? Rast didn&#8217;t point to anything particular, more than just a more intangible changed dynamic.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s just really small details that you need to make right in the right moments to be there when you want to be there,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And these things, they&#8217;re still missing a little bit, but I think the power is there and they&#8217;re on a really good way.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>It is not the iron-clad squad we saw in 2024 and 2025, and the team are making no bones about the fact that they haven&#8217;t replaced the riders they&#8217;ve lost, then. But it&#8217;s far from being a difficult situation at Lidl-Trek.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"who-will-be-in-the-line-up-on-sunday-3\">Who will be in the line-up on Sunday?<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-1be010b5-f95e-4e6f-b0d1-070ad7587e43\">Lidl-Trek are yet to confirm their squad for the Tour of Flanders, but based on the provisional start list and the riders who went on recon on Thursday, the team looks set to comprise Pedersen, Theuns, Walscheid, Teutenberg, Soderqvist, S\u00f8ren Kragh Andersen and Mathias Vacek.<\/p>\n<p>On paper, that is certainly not a team lacking in power, but like the races we&#8217;ve already seen, what seems to be missing is a rider who can go deep into the final. This is perhaps something you can get away with less in Flanders, which is notably more difficult.<\/p>\n<p>The rookies will be put to work early, whilst Theuns will be the experienced road captain and will be expected to go a long way into the races. Walscheid will offer horsepower and positioning strength early on \u2013 less so once the bergs start \u2013 whilst Pedersen can likely look to Kragh Andersen and Vacek to be his final helpers as and when the racing really kicks off.<\/p>\n<p>Pedersen is not at his very top form, but he&#8217;s going well post-injury, and the team are making the most of the riders they have, even if that means a different approach to last year.<\/p>\n<p>Pedersen and his team are avoiding being bullish about what he can do on Sunday, and perhaps replicating that second is a bit of a big ask given all the circumstances, but they&#8217;re also not writing themselves off prematurely.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think we need to really stick together as a team,&#8221; Rast said. &#8220;I mean, Mads finished ninth in E3 \u2013 in the past he was already happy when he was top 40. Only last year he was on the podium for the first time.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s on a really good way, the team did not a bad job, to make that clear, and if we keep going in this direction we will be there.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-71cceac9-25db-47fb-a3c0-a45877935001\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z6HBDVzwxyzcYx6eoxFsL4-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z6HBDVzwxyzcYx6eoxFsL4-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z6HBDVzwxyzcYx6eoxFsL4-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z6HBDVzwxyzcYx6eoxFsL4-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z6HBDVzwxyzcYx6eoxFsL4-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z6HBDVzwxyzcYx6eoxFsL4-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">2026 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: S\u00f8ren Kragh Andersen during the race <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-f380501f-4d12-4299-865d-a2c7c8b3b569\"><em><strong>Get unlimited access to our unrivalled 2026 Spring Classics coverage with a Cyclingnews subscription. We&#8217;ll bring you breaking news, reports, and analysis from some of the biggest races on the calendar, including Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block mb-5\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">TOPICS<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Road<\/p>\n<p>Mads Pedersen<\/p>\n<p>Mathias Vacek<\/p>\n<p>S\u00f8ren Kragh Andersen<\/p>\n<p>Jasper Stuyven<\/p>\n<p>Tim Torn Teutenberg<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-WinoWpcGLNgUc2MqnCw6hf\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-WinoWpcGLNgUc2MqnCw6hf slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Matilda Price<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__role\">Assistant Features Editor<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Matilda is an NCTJ-qualified journalist based in the UK who joined <em>Cyclingnews <\/em>in March 2025. Prior to that, she worked as the Racing News Editor at <em>GCN<\/em>, and extensively as a freelancer contributing to <em>Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Velo, Rouleur, Escape Collective, Red Bull <\/em>and more. She has reported on the ground at all of the biggest events on the calendar, including the men&#8217;s and women&#8217;s Tours de France, the Giro d&#8217;Italia, the Vuelta a Espana, the Spring Classics and the World Championships. She has particular experience and expertise in women&#8217;s cycling, and women&#8217;s sport in general. She is a graduate of modern languages and sports journalism.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"mt-6 lg:px-0 relative max-w-[1070px] mx-auto viafoura-twig-component px-4\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class='vfcustom-community-guidelines'&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 !text-lg\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 !text-sm\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have the makings of a great Tour of Flanders team, but is Remco Evenepoel the missing piece for taking on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tadej Poga\u010dar has changed E3 Saxo Classic&#8217;s status but it remains the best Flanders form guide \u2013 A closer look at the contenders for Friday&#8217;s race<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BKgqTUwnbwydCuUCg6jKWJ-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BKgqTUwnbwydCuUCg6jKWJ-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BKgqTUwnbwydCuUCg6jKWJ-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BKgqTUwnbwydCuUCg6jKWJ-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BKgqTUwnbwydCuUCg6jKWJ-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Emerging Talents<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">B\u00e4ckstedt, Scaroni, and beyond \u2013 Riders on the verge of a breakthrough this Spring Classics season<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nV6EeTstsrSed7sBoahJ9a-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nV6EeTstsrSed7sBoahJ9a-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nV6EeTstsrSed7sBoahJ9a-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nV6EeTstsrSed7sBoahJ9a-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nV6EeTstsrSed7sBoahJ9a-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">The cobbled Classics storylines we&#8217;re looking forward to \u2013 From Van der Poel and Poga\u010dar on the cusp of history to a different Demi Vollering and a resurgent Mads Pedersen<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Van der Poel, Van Aert lead challenge against Poga\u010dar, but can debutant Evenepoel spoil the party in rare matchup? \u2013 Analysing the favourites for the men&#8217;s Tour of Flanders<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vBNXAKbEraoHuCuwKXcZ2M-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vBNXAKbEraoHuCuwKXcZ2M-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vBNXAKbEraoHuCuwKXcZ2M-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vBNXAKbEraoHuCuwKXcZ2M-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vBNXAKbEraoHuCuwKXcZ2M-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;A trial by fire&#8217; &#8211; George Hincapie&#8217;s Modern Adventure hope team spirit will make up for lack of Classics experience as their cobbled debut at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne approaches<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Teams &amp; Riders<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">All about Remco: Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe field notably experienced squad to back rookie Evenepoel in Sunday&#8217;s Tour of Flanders <\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bMn7Jy57ghfh6TvFCMS4Si-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bMn7Jy57ghfh6TvFCMS4Si-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bMn7Jy57ghfh6TvFCMS4Si-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bMn7Jy57ghfh6TvFCMS4Si-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bMn7Jy57ghfh6TvFCMS4Si-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;It wasn&#8217;t the plan&#8217; \u2013 Richard Carapaz undergoes surgical procedure this week, affirms recovery will not distract from Giro d&#8217;Italia in just five weeks<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aG7rtHcqry8hwsprDx3Bk-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aG7rtHcqry8hwsprDx3Bk-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aG7rtHcqry8hwsprDx3Bk-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aG7rtHcqry8hwsprDx3Bk-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aG7rtHcqry8hwsprDx3Bk-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Caja Rural-Seguros RGA rider hospitalised in serious condition following training crash<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tAGoLioBdtJ5ZavcSjULKD-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tAGoLioBdtJ5ZavcSjULKD-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tAGoLioBdtJ5ZavcSjULKD-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tAGoLioBdtJ5ZavcSjULKD-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tAGoLioBdtJ5ZavcSjULKD-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Even easier than a PlayStation&#8217; \u2013 Peter Sagan says Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s dominance is amazing but &#8216;boring in a certain way&#8217;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xWfeX2yNpSsweaciMeFruR-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xWfeX2yNpSsweaciMeFruR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xWfeX2yNpSsweaciMeFruR-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xWfeX2yNpSsweaciMeFruR-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xWfeX2yNpSsweaciMeFruR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sticky situation for Filippo Ganna resolved with 200 CHF fine after taking victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RZPKZeofqLnbQCo582hApD-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RZPKZeofqLnbQCo582hApD-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RZPKZeofqLnbQCo582hApD-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RZPKZeofqLnbQCo582hApD-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RZPKZeofqLnbQCo582hApD-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;He needs to call my girlfriend, because she&#8217;s preparing a fantastic dinner for Easter&#8217; \u2013 Despite dramatic Dwars fightback, Filippo Ganna says Paris-Roubaix remains his next race, not the Tour of Flanders<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Features<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Why Remco Evenepoel is right to make his Tour of Flanders debut now, and how he could challenge Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Q3J95fBiX8AU8aJKCfy8gT-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Q3J95fBiX8AU8aJKCfy8gT-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Q3J95fBiX8AU8aJKCfy8gT-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Q3J95fBiX8AU8aJKCfy8gT-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Q3J95fBiX8AU8aJKCfy8gT-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Emerging Talents<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Instagram DMs, quiet Belgian side streets, and phone calls with parents \u2013 Inside the race to snap up cycling&#8217;s next top talents<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rcETCoJsDCpoif83S8uocA-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rcETCoJsDCpoif83S8uocA-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rcETCoJsDCpoif83S8uocA-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rcETCoJsDCpoif83S8uocA-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rcETCoJsDCpoif83S8uocA-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">A clinical Jonas Vingegaard and a long list of riders MIA \u2013 Philippa York analyses the Volta a Catalunya<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MKWBaDLoZMm6zxaaaxGDTA-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MKWBaDLoZMm6zxaaaxGDTA-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MKWBaDLoZMm6zxaaaxGDTA-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MKWBaDLoZMm6zxaaaxGDTA-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MKWBaDLoZMm6zxaaaxGDTA-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Soft pulls, subtle digs: The Tour of Flanders mind games have already begun \u2013 Analysis<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have the makings of a great Tour of Flanders team, but is Remco Evenepoel the missing piece for taking on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/h46gUSG89XyXEozhPuUTX8-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/h46gUSG89XyXEozhPuUTX8-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/h46gUSG89XyXEozhPuUTX8-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/h46gUSG89XyXEozhPuUTX8-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/h46gUSG89XyXEozhPuUTX8-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Pro Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sean Kelly&#8217;s Classics column: The alternative way to beat the big hitters, and why Lorena Wiebes is a master<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-popularBox\" class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice popularBox slice-container-popularBox\">\n<section data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"popular-box\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">LATEST ARTICLES<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div><source class=\"popular-box__article-list__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg-320-80.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">All about Remco: Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe field notably experienced squad to back rookie Evenepoel in Sunday&#8217;s Tour of Flanders <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;Being a little sneaky&#8217; with smart teamwork, Kristen Faulkner starts her European season at Tour of Flanders and says EF Education-Oatly &#8216;can surprise the field&#8217;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;I&#8217;m just at the level I want to be&#8217; \u2013 Lotte Kopecky says she &#8216;doesn&#8217;t really care&#8217; whether rivals view her as Tour of Flanders frontrunner<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;We know we are able to win&#8217; \u2013 Pauline Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot returns to Tour of Flanders as a firm favourite after &#8216;unexpected&#8217; success in 2025<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;It wasn&#8217;t the plan&#8217; \u2013 Richard Carapaz undergoes surgical procedure this week, affirms recovery will not distract from Giro d&#8217;Italia in just five weeks<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<li>\nLidl-Trek\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;We lost three experienced riders, and replaced them with really young riders&#8217; \u2013 Can Lidl-Trek&#8217;s changed Classics core do enough for Mads Pedersen at the Tour of Flanders?<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\nFeatures<\/p>\n<div class=\"text-[13px]\"><span><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nMatilda Price <\/span><span><br \/>\npublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-04-02T11:19:50Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n2 April 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Look back a year or two ago, and Lidl-Trek men&#8217;s Classics team was as hard to get into as some squads&#8217; Tour de France line-ups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"mx-auto mb-4 flex items-center justify-start mx-0 my-5 p-0\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-700 mb-2 text-[12px] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-gray-700 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LsHmBtnTxiYK3jFBQJLi7S-1024-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LsHmBtnTxiYK3jFBQJLi7S-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LsHmBtnTxiYK3jFBQJLi7S-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LsHmBtnTxiYK3jFBQJLi7S-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LsHmBtnTxiYK3jFBQJLi7S-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LsHmBtnTxiYK3jFBQJLi7S-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LsHmBtnTxiYK3jFBQJLi7S-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><figcaption class=\"mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text\">2026 Dwars Door Vlaanderen: Mads Pedersen (r) and Mathias Vacek (c) lead the Lidl-Trek string<\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"!m-0\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 sm:ml-1.5 font-base text-xs\">0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div role=\"dialog\" class=\"hidden fixed inset-0 z-[999999999999999999] bg-[#33333370] flex items-center justify-center p-6 newsletter-modal\" data-batch-endpoint=\"https:\/\/newsletter-subscribe.futureplc.com\/v2\/submission\/submit_batch\" data-batch-source=\"302\" data-component-name=\"Newsletter:Modal\">\n<div class=\"bg-neutral-100 rounded-xl shadow-xl w-full lg:w-2\/3 xl:w-1\/2 p-6 relative max-h-[95vh] overflow-y-auto\">\n<div id=\"newsletter-capture-modal\">\n<div class=\"sm:text-xl text-base font-bold text-black mb-3 p-0 bg-inherit font-ui-heading\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<p class=\"text-gray-600 mb-4 text-sm sm:text-base font-article-copy\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<div data-component-name=\"Newsletter:NewsletterForm\">\n<hr class=\"modal_hr mt-3 mb-4 h-px bg-gray-300 border-0\">\n<div class=\"modal_footer block text-left opacity-80 text-[.8em] leading-[1.3em] mt-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-article-copy\">\nBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-modal-confirmation\" class=\"hidden\">\n<p class=\"sm:text-xl text-base font-bold text-black mb-3 p-0\">You are now subscribed<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-600 mb-4 text-sm sm:text-base\">Your newsletter sign-up was successful<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsletter-modal-confirmation__userlogin\" class=\"hidden\">\n<hr class=\"my-5 h-px bg-gray-300 border-0\">\n<div class=\"items-start flex flex-col h-full justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flcw-text pb-5 pt-2 leading-[1.3]\"> An account already exists for this email address, please log in.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-71a3c886-d5ab-4ae0-ba91-45c455bcc8f5\">Mads Pedersen, Jasper Stuyven, Tim Declerq, Toms Skuji\u0146\u0161, Edward Theuns, and a fairly locked-in rotation of riders like Otto Vergaerde, Daan Hoole and Mathias Vacek. They would speak of trust, unity and experience, riding as a unit built over several years and many races, and that strength was reflected on the road.<\/p>\n<p>Fast forward to 2026, however, and a number of team changes and badly-timed illnesses means that Lidl-Trek men&#8217;s squad have been shuffling through various iterations during the cobbled Classics so far. When it comes to their potential line-up for the Tour of Flanders on Sunday, for example, there isn&#8217;t that obvious core squad that there used to be, rather a jigsaw involving drafting in the strongest options from a younger, less experienced cast of riders.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-71a3c886-d5ab-4ae0-ba91-45c455bcc8f5-2\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">It&#8217;s of course far from unusual for teams to rotate line-ups during the Classics, nor odd to see young riders getting their starts. But Lidl-Trek&#8217;s close-knit cobbles line-up has definitely been one of their key assets over the last years and this spring they&#8217;re without a big chunk of that foundational component of the team.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"article-continues-below block py-2 text-sm\">Article continues below <\/span><\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have the makings of a great Tour of Flanders team, but is Remco Evenepoel the missing piece for taking on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel?<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Tadej Poga\u010dar has changed E3 Saxo Classic&#8217;s status but it remains the best Flanders form guide \u2013 A closer look at the contenders for Friday&#8217;s race<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BKgqTUwnbwydCuUCg6jKWJ-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BKgqTUwnbwydCuUCg6jKWJ-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">B\u00e4ckstedt, Scaroni, and beyond \u2013 Riders on the verge of a breakthrough this Spring Classics season<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Jasper Stuyven departed the team for Soudal-QuickStep over the winter, Daan Hoole went to Decathlon CMA CGM, and Tim Declerq retired. Losing those three was significant enough, but then serious illness in Paris-Nice also ruled Toms Skuji\u0146\u0161 out of the whole spring.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Suddenly, of the seven-rider team that helped Mads Pedersen to a runner-up spot in Flanders last year, only three are here in Belgium this time round.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Lidl-Trek did of course make some replacement signings over the winter, but a lot of their budget likely went in the direction of star acquisition Juan Ayuso, rather than like-for-like Classics replacements &#8211; not that there is realistically any substitute for a rider like Jasper Stuyven.<\/p>\n<p>New arrivals Max Walscheid and Mathias Norsgaard have been drafted into the Classics line-up, but the team has also looked to much younger riders, like Jakob S\u00f6derqvist and Tim Torn Teutenberg, which naturally gives their formation a different shape. It says a lot that while Mathias Vacek was the rookie last year, he&#8217;s now one of the most experienced components for these races.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-WinoWpcGLNgUc2MqnCw6hf\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-WinoWpcGLNgUc2MqnCw6hf slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Starting the year, there wasn&#8217;t any initial concern over the team&#8217;s strength for this Classics season, but the first races soon opened up a conversation about what the team would need to do for the bigger events to come.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We did only Opening Weekend before there was this discussion, because in Opening Weekend it was not super good, for different reasons, a bit of bad luck, and then we didn&#8217;t have any results,&#8221; Lidl-Trek DS Gr\u00e9gory Rast told <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> earlier this week, before admitting that the team have been lacking the numbers and effectiveness of previous years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#8220;Now with the first race in E3, we were not there with numbers which we were in the past, and we didn&#8217;t really nail the run-in to the most important points. But nevertheless, we still had two guys up there, when in the past we had probably three.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nV6EeTstsrSed7sBoahJ9a-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nV6EeTstsrSed7sBoahJ9a-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">The cobbled Classics storylines we&#8217;re looking forward to \u2013 From Van der Poel and Poga\u010dar on the cusp of history to a different Demi Vollering and a resurgent Mads Pedersen<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Van der Poel, Van Aert lead challenge against Poga\u010dar, but can debutant Evenepoel spoil the party in rare matchup? \u2013 Analysing the favourites for the men&#8217;s Tour of Flanders<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vBNXAKbEraoHuCuwKXcZ2M-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vBNXAKbEraoHuCuwKXcZ2M-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">&#8216;A trial by fire&#8217; &#8211; George Hincapie&#8217;s Modern Adventure hope team spirit will make up for lack of Classics experience as their cobbled debut at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne approaches<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">That&#8217;s been plain to see, so there was really no other way to assess the situation so far in E3, In Flanders Fields and Dwars door Vlaanderen, but that doesn&#8217;t mean it was unexpected for Lidl-Trek.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#8220;I mean, it&#8217;s not a huge surprise, because to replace a rider like Jasper Stuyven is not easy,&#8221; Rast said. &#8220;I think we give the chance to young riders now, they need to learn, and they will step in, hopefully soon.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-7600903d-8aed-4925-8914-4cbf20aca556\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UPWTLEPmdr8VPWeUHViyrf-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UPWTLEPmdr8VPWeUHViyrf-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UPWTLEPmdr8VPWeUHViyrf-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UPWTLEPmdr8VPWeUHViyrf-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UPWTLEPmdr8VPWeUHViyrf-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UPWTLEPmdr8VPWeUHViyrf-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Lidl-Trek at 2025 Paris-Roubaix: Jasper Stuyven, now with Soudal-QuickStep, waves at the crowd pre-race <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-7a028f0d-2794-4821-9f31-04379773354f\">Those young riders who have been drafted in, notably S\u00f6derqvist and Teutenberg, are very strong riders, even for what they lack in experience. The Swede is the reigning under-23 time trial world champion, whilst Teutenberg is a winner of Paris-Roubaix U23. The latter has finished all the Classics he&#8217;s started this year, peaking with 12th in Ronde van Brugge, whilst S\u00f6derqvist was DNF in Ronde van Brugge and Dwars door Vlaanderen.<\/p>\n<p>Relying on riders like these two is clearly a different proposition to the veterans they&#8217;ve counted on before, but Rast is facing that with pragmatism rather than disappointment.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;At the moment of course it&#8217;s realistic, we have riders like Tim Teutenberg, he&#8217;s young, he needs to learn the Classics, and Jakob S\u00f6derqvist as well, so this a bit the difference,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We lost three really experienced riders, and we replaced them with really young riders, so it&#8217;s not really surprising.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>As a result of this morphed core, and indeed Pedersen&#8217;s long hiatus with injury, Lidl-Trek&#8217;s approach to these Classics have been different. With their younger riders less able to make it deep into the race, the team have focused on doing work earlier, when their riders can still be there, and gambling a bit more later on.<\/p>\n<p>So far, the results have been positive, particularly considering Pedersen&#8217;s condition, saying himself that he&#8217;s lacking that top-level punch after primarily seated training with a broken wrist in the last few weeks. We haven&#8217;t seen Skuji\u0146\u0161 shepherding Pedersen into the final 50km, for example, but the Dane has adapted well, all the same and ridden to fourth, ninth and tenth in his 2026 one-day races to date.<\/p>\n<p>Is there anything major that&#8217;s a challenge for the team right now? Rast didn&#8217;t point to anything particular, more than just a more intangible changed dynamic.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s just really small details that you need to make right in the right moments to be there when you want to be there,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And these things, they&#8217;re still missing a little bit, but I think the power is there and they&#8217;re on a really good way.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>It is not the iron-clad squad we saw in 2024 and 2025, and the team are making no bones about the fact that they haven&#8217;t replaced the riders they&#8217;ve lost, then. But it&#8217;s far from being a difficult situation at Lidl-Trek.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"who-will-be-in-the-line-up-on-sunday-3\">Who will be in the line-up on Sunday?<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-1be010b5-f95e-4e6f-b0d1-070ad7587e43\">Lidl-Trek are yet to confirm their squad for the Tour of Flanders, but based on the provisional start list and the riders who went on recon on Thursday, the team looks set to comprise Pedersen, Theuns, Walscheid, Teutenberg, Soderqvist, S\u00f8ren Kragh Andersen and Mathias Vacek.<\/p>\n<p>On paper, that is certainly not a team lacking in power, but like the races we&#8217;ve already seen, what seems to be missing is a rider who can go deep into the final. This is perhaps something you can get away with less in Flanders, which is notably more difficult.<\/p>\n<p>The rookies will be put to work early, whilst Theuns will be the experienced road captain and will be expected to go a long way into the races. Walscheid will offer horsepower and positioning strength early on \u2013 less so once the bergs start \u2013 whilst Pedersen can likely look to Kragh Andersen and Vacek to be his final helpers as and when the racing really kicks off.<\/p>\n<p>Pedersen is not at his very top form, but he&#8217;s going well post-injury, and the team are making the most of the riders they have, even if that means a different approach to last year.<\/p>\n<p>Pedersen and his team are avoiding being bullish about what he can do on Sunday, and perhaps replicating that second is a bit of a big ask given all the circumstances, but they&#8217;re also not writing themselves off prematurely.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think we need to really stick together as a team,&#8221; Rast said. &#8220;I mean, Mads finished ninth in E3 \u2013 in the past he was already happy when he was top 40. Only last year he was on the podium for the first time.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s on a really good way, the team did not a bad job, to make that clear, and if we keep going in this direction we will be there.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-71cceac9-25db-47fb-a3c0-a45877935001\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z6HBDVzwxyzcYx6eoxFsL4-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z6HBDVzwxyzcYx6eoxFsL4-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z6HBDVzwxyzcYx6eoxFsL4-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z6HBDVzwxyzcYx6eoxFsL4-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z6HBDVzwxyzcYx6eoxFsL4-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z6HBDVzwxyzcYx6eoxFsL4-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">2026 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: S\u00f8ren Kragh Andersen during the race <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-f380501f-4d12-4299-865d-a2c7c8b3b569\"><em><strong>Get unlimited access to our unrivalled 2026 Spring Classics coverage with a Cyclingnews subscription. We&#8217;ll bring you breaking news, reports, and analysis from some of the biggest races on the calendar, including Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block mb-5\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">TOPICS<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Road<\/p>\n<p>Mads Pedersen<\/p>\n<p>Mathias Vacek<\/p>\n<p>S\u00f8ren Kragh Andersen<\/p>\n<p>Jasper Stuyven<\/p>\n<p>Tim Torn Teutenberg<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-WinoWpcGLNgUc2MqnCw6hf\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-WinoWpcGLNgUc2MqnCw6hf slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Matilda Price<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__role\">Assistant Features Editor<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Matilda is an NCTJ-qualified journalist based in the UK who joined <em>Cyclingnews <\/em>in March 2025. Prior to that, she worked as the Racing News Editor at <em>GCN<\/em>, and extensively as a freelancer contributing to <em>Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Velo, Rouleur, Escape Collective, Red Bull <\/em>and more. She has reported on the ground at all of the biggest events on the calendar, including the men&#8217;s and women&#8217;s Tours de France, the Giro d&#8217;Italia, the Vuelta a Espana, the Spring Classics and the World Championships. She has particular experience and expertise in women&#8217;s cycling, and women&#8217;s sport in general. She is a graduate of modern languages and sports journalism.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"mt-6 lg:px-0 relative max-w-[1070px] mx-auto viafoura-twig-component px-4\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class='vfcustom-community-guidelines'&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 !text-lg\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 !text-sm\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have the makings of a great Tour of Flanders team, but is Remco Evenepoel the missing piece for taking on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tadej Poga\u010dar has changed E3 Saxo Classic&#8217;s status but it remains the best Flanders form guide \u2013 A closer look at the contenders for Friday&#8217;s race<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BKgqTUwnbwydCuUCg6jKWJ-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BKgqTUwnbwydCuUCg6jKWJ-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BKgqTUwnbwydCuUCg6jKWJ-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BKgqTUwnbwydCuUCg6jKWJ-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BKgqTUwnbwydCuUCg6jKWJ-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Emerging Talents<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">B\u00e4ckstedt, Scaroni, and beyond \u2013 Riders on the verge of a breakthrough this Spring Classics season<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nV6EeTstsrSed7sBoahJ9a-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nV6EeTstsrSed7sBoahJ9a-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nV6EeTstsrSed7sBoahJ9a-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nV6EeTstsrSed7sBoahJ9a-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nV6EeTstsrSed7sBoahJ9a-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">The cobbled Classics storylines we&#8217;re looking forward to \u2013 From Van der Poel and Poga\u010dar on the cusp of history to a different Demi Vollering and a resurgent Mads Pedersen<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Van der Poel, Van Aert lead challenge against Poga\u010dar, but can debutant Evenepoel spoil the party in rare matchup? \u2013 Analysing the favourites for the men&#8217;s Tour of Flanders<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vBNXAKbEraoHuCuwKXcZ2M-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vBNXAKbEraoHuCuwKXcZ2M-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vBNXAKbEraoHuCuwKXcZ2M-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vBNXAKbEraoHuCuwKXcZ2M-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vBNXAKbEraoHuCuwKXcZ2M-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;A trial by fire&#8217; &#8211; George Hincapie&#8217;s Modern Adventure hope team spirit will make up for lack of Classics experience as their cobbled debut at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne approaches<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Teams &amp; Riders<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">All about Remco: Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe field notably experienced squad to back rookie Evenepoel in Sunday&#8217;s Tour of Flanders <\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bMn7Jy57ghfh6TvFCMS4Si-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bMn7Jy57ghfh6TvFCMS4Si-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bMn7Jy57ghfh6TvFCMS4Si-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bMn7Jy57ghfh6TvFCMS4Si-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bMn7Jy57ghfh6TvFCMS4Si-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;It wasn&#8217;t the plan&#8217; \u2013 Richard Carapaz undergoes surgical procedure this week, affirms recovery will not distract from Giro d&#8217;Italia in just five weeks<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aG7rtHcqry8hwsprDx3Bk-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aG7rtHcqry8hwsprDx3Bk-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aG7rtHcqry8hwsprDx3Bk-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aG7rtHcqry8hwsprDx3Bk-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aG7rtHcqry8hwsprDx3Bk-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Caja Rural-Seguros RGA rider hospitalised in serious condition following training crash<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tAGoLioBdtJ5ZavcSjULKD-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tAGoLioBdtJ5ZavcSjULKD-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tAGoLioBdtJ5ZavcSjULKD-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tAGoLioBdtJ5ZavcSjULKD-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tAGoLioBdtJ5ZavcSjULKD-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Even easier than a PlayStation&#8217; \u2013 Peter Sagan says Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s dominance is amazing but &#8216;boring in a certain way&#8217;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xWfeX2yNpSsweaciMeFruR-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xWfeX2yNpSsweaciMeFruR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xWfeX2yNpSsweaciMeFruR-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xWfeX2yNpSsweaciMeFruR-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xWfeX2yNpSsweaciMeFruR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sticky situation for Filippo Ganna resolved with 200 CHF fine after taking victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RZPKZeofqLnbQCo582hApD-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RZPKZeofqLnbQCo582hApD-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RZPKZeofqLnbQCo582hApD-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RZPKZeofqLnbQCo582hApD-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RZPKZeofqLnbQCo582hApD-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;He needs to call my girlfriend, because she&#8217;s preparing a fantastic dinner for Easter&#8217; \u2013 Despite dramatic Dwars fightback, Filippo Ganna says Paris-Roubaix remains his next race, not the Tour of Flanders<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Features<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Why Remco Evenepoel is right to make his Tour of Flanders debut now, and how he could challenge Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Q3J95fBiX8AU8aJKCfy8gT-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Q3J95fBiX8AU8aJKCfy8gT-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Q3J95fBiX8AU8aJKCfy8gT-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Q3J95fBiX8AU8aJKCfy8gT-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Q3J95fBiX8AU8aJKCfy8gT-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Emerging Talents<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Instagram DMs, quiet Belgian side streets, and phone calls with parents \u2013 Inside the race to snap up cycling&#8217;s next top talents<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rcETCoJsDCpoif83S8uocA-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rcETCoJsDCpoif83S8uocA-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rcETCoJsDCpoif83S8uocA-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rcETCoJsDCpoif83S8uocA-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rcETCoJsDCpoif83S8uocA-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">A clinical Jonas Vingegaard and a long list of riders MIA \u2013 Philippa York analyses the Volta a Catalunya<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MKWBaDLoZMm6zxaaaxGDTA-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MKWBaDLoZMm6zxaaaxGDTA-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MKWBaDLoZMm6zxaaaxGDTA-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MKWBaDLoZMm6zxaaaxGDTA-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MKWBaDLoZMm6zxaaaxGDTA-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Soft pulls, subtle digs: The Tour of Flanders mind games have already begun \u2013 Analysis<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have the makings of a great Tour of Flanders team, but is Remco Evenepoel the missing piece for taking on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/h46gUSG89XyXEozhPuUTX8-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/h46gUSG89XyXEozhPuUTX8-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/h46gUSG89XyXEozhPuUTX8-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/h46gUSG89XyXEozhPuUTX8-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/h46gUSG89XyXEozhPuUTX8-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Pro Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sean Kelly&#8217;s Classics column: The alternative way to beat the big hitters, and why Lorena Wiebes is a master<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-popularBox\" class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice popularBox slice-container-popularBox\">\n<section data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"popular-box\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">LATEST ARTICLES<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div><source class=\"popular-box__article-list__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg-320-80.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ayddoth29Ve9o892HfMnZg.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">All about Remco: Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe field notably experienced squad to back rookie Evenepoel in Sunday&#8217;s Tour of Flanders <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;Being a little sneaky&#8217; with smart teamwork, Kristen Faulkner starts her European season at Tour of Flanders and says EF Education-Oatly &#8216;can surprise the field&#8217;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;I&#8217;m just at the level I want to be&#8217; \u2013 Lotte Kopecky says she &#8216;doesn&#8217;t really care&#8217; whether rivals view her as Tour of Flanders frontrunner<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;We know we are able to win&#8217; \u2013 Pauline Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot returns to Tour of Flanders as a firm favourite after &#8216;unexpected&#8217; success in 2025<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;It wasn&#8217;t the plan&#8217; \u2013 Richard Carapaz undergoes surgical procedure this week, affirms recovery will not distract from Giro d&#8217;Italia in just five weeks<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<li>\nLidl-Trek\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;We lost three experienced riders, and replaced them with really young riders&#8217; \u2013 Can Lidl-Trek&#8217;s changed Classics core do enough for Mads Pedersen at the Tour of Flanders?<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\nFeatures<\/p>\n<div class=\"text-[13px]\"><span><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nMatilda Price <\/span><span><br \/>\npublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-04-02T11:19:50Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n2 April 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Look back a year or two ago, and Lidl-Trek men&#8217;s Classics team was as hard to get into as some squads&#8217; Tour de France line-ups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"mx-auto mb-4 flex items-center justify-start mx-0 my-5 p-0\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-700 mb-2 text-[12px] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-gray-700 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"!m-0\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 sm:ml-1.5 font-base text-xs\">0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div role=\"dialog\" class=\"hidden fixed inset-0 z-[999999999999999999] bg-[#33333370] flex items-center justify-center p-6 newsletter-modal\" data-batch-endpoint=\"https:\/\/newsletter-subscribe.futureplc.com\/v2\/submission\/submit_batch\" data-batch-source=\"302\" data-component-name=\"Newsletter:Modal\">\n<div class=\"bg-neutral-100 rounded-xl shadow-xl w-full lg:w-2\/3 xl:w-1\/2 p-6 relative max-h-[95vh] overflow-y-auto\">\n<div id=\"newsletter-capture-modal\">\n<div class=\"sm:text-xl text-base font-bold text-black mb-3 p-0 bg-inherit font-ui-heading\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<p class=\"text-gray-600 mb-4 text-sm sm:text-base font-article-copy\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<div data-component-name=\"Newsletter:NewsletterForm\">\n<hr class=\"modal_hr mt-3 mb-4 h-px bg-gray-300 border-0\">\n<div class=\"modal_footer block text-left opacity-80 text-[.8em] leading-[1.3em] mt-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-article-copy\">\nBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-modal-confirmation\" class=\"hidden\">\n<p class=\"sm:text-xl text-base font-bold text-black mb-3 p-0\">You are now subscribed<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-600 mb-4 text-sm sm:text-base\">Your newsletter sign-up was successful<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsletter-modal-confirmation__userlogin\" class=\"hidden\">\n<hr class=\"my-5 h-px bg-gray-300 border-0\">\n<div class=\"items-start flex flex-col h-full justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flcw-text pb-5 pt-2 leading-[1.3]\"> An account already exists for this email address, please log in.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-71a3c886-d5ab-4ae0-ba91-45c455bcc8f5\">Mads Pedersen, Jasper Stuyven, Tim Declerq, Toms Skuji\u0146\u0161, Edward Theuns, and a fairly locked-in rotation of riders like Otto Vergaerde, Daan Hoole and Mathias Vacek. They would speak of trust, unity and experience, riding as a unit built over several years and many races, and that strength was reflected on the road.<\/p>\n<p>Fast forward to 2026, however, and a number of team changes and badly-timed illnesses means that Lidl-Trek men&#8217;s squad have been shuffling through various iterations during the cobbled Classics so far. When it comes to their potential line-up for the Tour of Flanders on Sunday, for example, there isn&#8217;t that obvious core squad that there used to be, rather a jigsaw involving drafting in the strongest options from a younger, less experienced cast of riders.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-71a3c886-d5ab-4ae0-ba91-45c455bcc8f5-2\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">It&#8217;s of course far from unusual for teams to rotate line-ups during the Classics, nor odd to see young riders getting their starts. But Lidl-Trek&#8217;s close-knit cobbles line-up has definitely been one of their key assets over the last years and this spring they&#8217;re without a big chunk of that foundational component of the team.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"article-continues-below block py-2 text-sm\">Article continues below <\/span><\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have the makings of a great Tour of Flanders team, but is Remco Evenepoel the missing piece for taking on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel?<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Tadej Poga\u010dar has changed E3 Saxo Classic&#8217;s status but it remains the best Flanders form guide \u2013 A closer look at the contenders for Friday&#8217;s race<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BKgqTUwnbwydCuUCg6jKWJ-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BKgqTUwnbwydCuUCg6jKWJ-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">B\u00e4ckstedt, Scaroni, and beyond \u2013 Riders on the verge of a breakthrough this Spring Classics season<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Jasper Stuyven departed the team for Soudal-QuickStep over the winter, Daan Hoole went to Decathlon CMA CGM, and Tim Declerq retired. Losing those three was significant enough, but then serious illness in Paris-Nice also ruled Toms Skuji\u0146\u0161 out of the whole spring.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Suddenly, of the seven-rider team that helped Mads Pedersen to a runner-up spot in Flanders last year, only three are here in Belgium this time round.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Lidl-Trek did of course make some replacement signings over the winter, but a lot of their budget likely went in the direction of star acquisition Juan Ayuso, rather than like-for-like Classics replacements &#8211; not that there is realistically any substitute for a rider like Jasper Stuyven.<\/p>\n<p>New arrivals Max Walscheid and Mathias Norsgaard have been drafted into the Classics line-up, but the team has also looked to much younger riders, like Jakob S\u00f6derqvist and Tim Torn Teutenberg, which naturally gives their formation a different shape. It says a lot that while Mathias Vacek was the rookie last year, he&#8217;s now one of the most experienced components for these races.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-WinoWpcGLNgUc2MqnCw6hf\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-WinoWpcGLNgUc2MqnCw6hf slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Starting the year, there wasn&#8217;t any initial concern over the team&#8217;s strength for this Classics season, but the first races soon opened up a conversation about what the team would need to do for the bigger events to come.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We did only Opening Weekend before there was this discussion, because in Opening Weekend it was not super good, for different reasons, a bit of bad luck, and then we didn&#8217;t have any results,&#8221; Lidl-Trek DS Gr\u00e9gory Rast told <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> earlier this week, before admitting that the team have been lacking the numbers and effectiveness of previous years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#8220;Now with the first race in E3, we were not there with numbers which we were in the past, and we didn&#8217;t really nail the run-in to the most important points. But nevertheless, we still had two guys up there, when in the past we had probably three.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nV6EeTstsrSed7sBoahJ9a-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nV6EeTstsrSed7sBoahJ9a-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">The cobbled Classics storylines we&#8217;re looking forward to \u2013 From Van der Poel and Poga\u010dar on the cusp of history to a different Demi Vollering and a resurgent Mads Pedersen<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Van der Poel, Van Aert lead challenge against Poga\u010dar, but can debutant Evenepoel spoil the party in rare matchup? \u2013 Analysing the favourites for the men&#8217;s Tour of Flanders<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vBNXAKbEraoHuCuwKXcZ2M-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vBNXAKbEraoHuCuwKXcZ2M-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">&#8216;A trial by fire&#8217; &#8211; George Hincapie&#8217;s Modern Adventure hope team spirit will make up for lack of Classics experience as their cobbled debut at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne approaches<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">That&#8217;s been plain to see, so there was really no other way to assess the situation so far in E3, In Flanders Fields and Dwars door Vlaanderen, but that doesn&#8217;t mean it was unexpected for Lidl-Trek.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#8220;I mean, it&#8217;s not a huge surprise, because to replace a rider like Jasper Stuyven is not easy,&#8221; Rast said. &#8220;I think we give the chance to young riders now, they need to learn, and they will step in, hopefully soon.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-7600903d-8aed-4925-8914-4cbf20aca556\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UPWTLEPmdr8VPWeUHViyrf-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UPWTLEPmdr8VPWeUHViyrf-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UPWTLEPmdr8VPWeUHViyrf-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UPWTLEPmdr8VPWeUHViyrf-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UPWTLEPmdr8VPWeUHViyrf-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/UPWTLEPmdr8VPWeUHViyrf-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Lidl-Trek at 2025 Paris-Roubaix: Jasper Stuyven, now with Soudal-QuickStep, waves at the crowd pre-race <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-7a028f0d-2794-4821-9f31-04379773354f\">Those young riders who have been drafted in, notably S\u00f6derqvist and Teutenberg, are very strong riders, even for what they lack in experience. The Swede is the reigning under-23 time trial world champion, whilst Teutenberg is a winner of Paris-Roubaix U23. The latter has finished all the Classics he&#8217;s started this year, peaking with 12th in Ronde van Brugge, whilst S\u00f6derqvist was DNF in Ronde van Brugge and Dwars door Vlaanderen.<\/p>\n<p>Relying on riders like these two is clearly a different proposition to the veterans they&#8217;ve counted on before, but Rast is facing that with pragmatism rather than disappointment.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;At the moment of course it&#8217;s realistic, we have riders like Tim Teutenberg, he&#8217;s young, he needs to learn the Classics, and Jakob S\u00f6derqvist as well, so this a bit the difference,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We lost three really experienced riders, and we replaced them with really young riders, so it&#8217;s not really surprising.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>As a result of this morphed core, and indeed Pedersen&#8217;s long hiatus with injury, Lidl-Trek&#8217;s approach to these Classics have been different. With their younger riders less able to make it deep into the race, the team have focused on doing work earlier, when their riders can still be there, and gambling a bit more later on.<\/p>\n<p>So far, the results have been positive, particularly considering Pedersen&#8217;s condition, saying himself that he&#8217;s lacking that top-level punch after primarily seated training with a broken wrist in the last few weeks. We haven&#8217;t seen Skuji\u0146\u0161 shepherding Pedersen into the final 50km, for example, but the Dane has adapted well, all the same and ridden to fourth, ninth and tenth in his 2026 one-day races to date.<\/p>\n<p>Is there anything major that&#8217;s a challenge for the team right now? Rast didn&#8217;t point to anything particular, more than just a more intangible changed dynamic.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s just really small details that you need to make right in the right moments to be there when you want to be there,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And these things, they&#8217;re still missing a little bit, but I think the power is there and they&#8217;re on a really good way.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>It is not the iron-clad squad we saw in 2024 and 2025, and the team are making no bones about the fact that they haven&#8217;t replaced the riders they&#8217;ve lost, then. But it&#8217;s far from being a difficult situation at Lidl-Trek.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"who-will-be-in-the-line-up-on-sunday-3\">Who will be in the line-up on Sunday?<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-1be010b5-f95e-4e6f-b0d1-070ad7587e43\">Lidl-Trek are yet to confirm their squad for the Tour of Flanders, but based on the provisional start list and the riders who went on recon on Thursday, the team looks set to comprise Pedersen, Theuns, Walscheid, Teutenberg, Soderqvist, S\u00f8ren Kragh Andersen and Mathias Vacek.<\/p>\n<p>On paper, that is certainly not a team lacking in power, but like the races we&#8217;ve already seen, what seems to be missing is a rider who can go deep into the final. This is perhaps something you can get away with less in Flanders, which is notably more difficult.<\/p>\n<p>The rookies will be put to work early, whilst Theuns will be the experienced road captain and will be expected to go a long way into the races. Walscheid will offer horsepower and positioning strength early on \u2013 less so once the bergs start \u2013 whilst Pedersen can likely look to Kragh Andersen and Vacek to be his final helpers as and when the racing really kicks off.<\/p>\n<p>Pedersen is not at his very top form, but he&#8217;s going well post-injury, and the team are making the most of the riders they have, even if that means a different approach to last year.<\/p>\n<p>Pedersen and his team are avoiding being bullish about what he can do on Sunday, and perhaps replicating that second is a bit of a big ask given all the circumstances, but they&#8217;re also not writing themselves off prematurely.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think we need to really stick together as a team,&#8221; Rast said. &#8220;I mean, Mads finished ninth in E3 \u2013 in the past he was already happy when he was top 40. Only last year he was on the podium for the first time.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s on a really good way, the team did not a bad job, to make that clear, and if we keep going in this direction we will be there.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-71cceac9-25db-47fb-a3c0-a45877935001\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z6HBDVzwxyzcYx6eoxFsL4-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z6HBDVzwxyzcYx6eoxFsL4-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z6HBDVzwxyzcYx6eoxFsL4-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z6HBDVzwxyzcYx6eoxFsL4-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z6HBDVzwxyzcYx6eoxFsL4-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/z6HBDVzwxyzcYx6eoxFsL4-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">2026 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: S\u00f8ren Kragh Andersen during the race <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-f380501f-4d12-4299-865d-a2c7c8b3b569\"><em><strong>Get unlimited access to our unrivalled 2026 Spring Classics coverage with a Cyclingnews subscription. We&#8217;ll bring you breaking news, reports, and analysis from some of the biggest races on the calendar, including Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/we-lost-three-experienced-riders-and-replaced-them-with-really-young-riders-can-lidl-treks-revamped-classics-core-do-enough-for-mads-pedersen-at-the-tour-of-flanders\/&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LsHmBtnTxiYK3jFBQJLi7S-1024-80.jpg&#8221;] Pro Cycling Teams &amp; Riders Lidl-Trek &#8216;We lost three experienced riders, and replaced them with really young riders&#8217; \u2013 Can Lidl-Trek&#8217;s changed Classics core do enough for Mads Pedersen at the Tour of Flanders? Features By Matilda Price published 2 April 2026 Look back a year or two ago, and Lidl-Trek men&#8217;s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,68],"class_list":["post-1862714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-cyclingnews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1862714","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1862714"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1862714\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1862714"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1862714"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1862714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}