Briton confirmed as leader for semi-Classic
Already successful in seven races this year, Mark Cavendish is aiming to make history tomorrow when he goes for the all-time record of four career victories in the Scheldeprijs race.
The Omega Pharma Quick Step rider most recently won stage two of the Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde and, having won Scheldeprijs in 2007, 2008 and 2011, is psyched to hit the line first tomorrow.
He is currently equal on three wins with Piet Oellibrandt and, according to directeur sportif Wilfried Peeters, he will have full backing as he seeks to further improve his showing in the race.
“Mark can beat the record of victories tomorrow and the team will help him out try to do this,” he said. “We have an experienced team for these kind of races and a few fresh riders for the leadout of Mark.
“It will not be so easy with the competitors at the race, but Mark has shown he is in good condition and can win with many different sprint situations in the final.”
Cavendish will be up against a number of other sprinters, including last year’s winner Marcel Kittel (Argos Shimano), Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) and Arnaud Demare (FDJ).
He will be aided in the flat race by Andrew Fenn, Iljo Keisse, Nikolas Maes, Gert Steegmans, Guillaume Van Keirsbulck, Stijn Vandenbergh and Martin Velits.
Last year he became a father one day before the start of the race and consequently did not take part. Kittel won a big gallop ahead of Tyler Farrar and Theo Bos.