Now, that the Flanders Classics Season is in full swing, a race worth following is the 48th edition of Le Samyn. Located on the French border in Wallonia, Belgium this semi-classic is capable to dish out the hurt, like the big classics, by employing those brutal cobbles. The organizers have transformed the race to include four cobble sectors, up from three last year. The new sector (above image) looks especially nasty. I couldn't imagine riding this on leisurely speed without fear of crashing. This is no joke. The riders will go full bore and have to contend with this brute of cobbles.
"We added these pave to highlight them and because we are in the midst of Flanders classics season, where pave are normal."
- Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke, Le Samyn.
Start list.
Le Samyn: Quaregnon to Dour, 202.6km, 4 cobble sectors. Note: Finishing straight in Dour is a slight uphill.
My prediction:
1. Philippe Gilbert
2. Gianni Meersman
3. Tosh Van der Sande
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