Sylvain Chavanel to ride the Dwars Door Vlaanderen
Sylvain Chavanel had to abandon the Milan-San Remo because of bronchitis and the cyclist has now decided to ride the Dwars Door Vlaanderen in order to make up for the lost time.
He will be seen in action at the Dwars Door Vlaanderen starting on March 21st, 2012. The French is still awaiting his first victory of the new season.
Chavanel had a good past season and filled his bag with a number of victories including the National Road Race Championships and the second place finish at the Tour of Flanders.
He claimed the fourth overall spot at the Three Days of De Panne and held the red jersey at the Vuelta a Espana for four consecutive stages, 4-7.
The 32-year-old was not feeling his best during the Paris-Nice either but decided to go on with the French event.
However, it was decided by his team’s medical staff that the cyclist should skip the Milan-San Remo to divert his concentration towards his health.
The Dwars Door Vlaanderen was not the part of his roster initially but missing out on the fourth biggest race of the 2012 season has made him alter his plans.
He told L’Equipe, "Initially, I hadn't planned to race this Wednesday but missing Milan-San Remo because of bronchitis has changed my plans”.
“I've been able to rest and heal properly at my home, so now I feel ready to take on these first Flandrian competitions".
Sylvain previously won the one-day Belgian semi classic back in 2008. The 2012 version of the race is expected to test the cyclists through almost 13 climbs throughout the route.
He will be supported by Guillaume Van Keirsbulck, Iljo Keisse, Matthew Brammeier, Niki Terpstra, Nikolas Maes, Alongside Chavanel, Gerald Ciolek and Gert Steegmans.
Wilfried Peeters is Sports Director for Team Quick Step and he is certain that the team is pretty much capable of securing the victory at the coming event.
"It's an important race in which we will line up a squad that can bring results, The race is just a few days before Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem, so it will be also a very important test for us”, he voiced.
Peeters noted that the last 50 kilometres of the race will be very crucial and will set the order of the peloton.
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