Credit: TDWsport.com

Credit: TDWsport.com

 

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High Road Set the Bar High in Gent-Wevelgem

April 07, 2008

Recovery from an injury means High Road’s Marcus Burghardt will not be able to defend his 2007 title on Gent-Wevelgem this Wednesday. But the American squad is sending a strong line-up nonetheless.

Amongst those taking part for High Road in the 209 kilometre event will be two former Wevelgem winners, Andreas Klier and George Hincapie, as well as 2007 runner-up Roger Hammond.

Meanwhile British sprinter Mark Cavendish, recently the winner of a gold medal in Manchester’s Track World Championships and two stages in the Three Days of De Panne, will make his debut in the Belgian ProTour race.

Last year Hammond was in a three-man day-long break, reinforced by Burghardt and other riders after the twin ascent of the Kemmelberg. Burghardt then attacked close to the finish, with Hammond taking second place.

“The good news is we’ve got eight riders with the ability to win in Gent-Wevelgem.” team manager Rolf Aldag says.

“We can cover a lot of different circumstances - if there’s a breakaway or if 30 or 40 riders reach the finish together, we should be there.”

“Mark’s two wins make him stand out as one of the favourites in a sprint, partly because of the way he won them so clearly.”

“But he’s not our only option by any means.”

“But there’s the Kemmelberg, which in a sense is Gent-Wevelgem. Whatever happens there really influences the race.”

With its descent changed to avoid more accidents, Aldag argues that “personally speaking, I feel any way down off the Kemmel is dangerous.”

“But you couldn’t take it out of the race, either, it’s an integral part of the course.”

“It’s a great race for us, one which I think suits the team’s character.”

ProTour leader Andre Greipel  is down to race for High Road. Greipel leads after two rounds of the series, the Tour Down Under in Australia and the Tour of Flanders.

High Road for Ghent-Wevelgem: Mark Cavendish (GBR), Bernhard Eisel (Aut),  Andre Greipel (Ger),  Roger Hammond (GBR), George Hincapie (USA), Andreas Klier (Ger), Servais Knaven (Hol),
Vicente Reynes (Spa).