Niki Terpstra (Etixx-QuickStep)
Niki Terpstra (Etixx-QuickStep)
Defending champion Niki Terpstra is provisionally set to lead another fiercely-strong Etixx-QuickStep line-up.
With Classics riders Tom Boonen, Stijn Vandenbergh and Guillaime van Keirsbulck in tow, QuickStep will be confident of achieving a fourth straight victory in this race.
Terpstra’s chance of being the man to lead them to another success will depend on him being able seize any opportunity for a stage win, as he did 12 months ago.
Winning from the break on stage one, Terpstra took a commanding lead in the race, with Boonen controlling the peloton behind.
After consolidating his lead in the time trial, Terpstra went on to claim overall victory – a triumph which gave an early indication of form ahead of his Paris-Roubaix success.
No team can control the crosswinds quite like Etixx-QuickStep, and they will take some beating as they bid to follow Boonen, Mark Cavendish and Terpstra’s Qatar wins in the last three years.
However, for Terpstra to claim victory overall he will likely need to win at least one stage – and Boonen seems the more likely candidate as a result.