Team BikeExchange-Jayco will race Dwars door het Hageland and Elfstedenronde respectively this Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th June, with sprinter Kaden Groves looking for a top result in each.
The young Australian, who has two victories to his name this season – including his first WorldTour stage win, achieved in Catalunya – will be the team’s focal point for a result in each race, backed by a strong squad that blends speed, youth and experience.
Michael Hepburn and Callum Scotson will provide plenty of know-how across the two demanding days of racing, with Campbell Stewart and Alex Konychev both offering support. Kell O’Brien, who achieved an impressive top-10 result in Belgium earlier this season at Dwars door Vlaanderen, will complete the line-up as the team targets top rewards in Flanders.
Dwars door het Hageland will see the riders tackle 181.6km from Aarschot to Diest, with a series of loops taking in the finish line three times before the finale. With a short, sharp uphill finish, it promises to be an explosive end to the race.
A flatter parcours awaits the riders on Sunday in Bruges, where the 192.3km race finishes with a circuit that completes seven laps before the line.
Team BikeExchange-Jayco Line-Up:
Kaden Groves (AUS)
Michael Hepburn (AUS)
Alexander Konychev (ITA)
Kelland O’Brien (AUS)
Callum Scotson (AUS)
Campbell Stewart (NZL)
Kaden Groves:
“Everyone’s looking forward to racing this weekend, and we’re expecting them to be really tough days, with a bit of gravel as well on Saturday.
The goal is to try and get some wins, and we’ve got a good team for the sprint so hopefully everything will come back for a sprint finish.”
David McPartland – Sport Director:
“We’re heading to Belgium to get some good results. Kaden will lead the team on both days and the riders we’re taking are there to support him.
Saturday is a loop around Hageland, with an uphill cobbled section for the finish, but Kaden can handle himself on cobbles so hopefully we can get a good result there.
Then on Sunday, at Elfsteden, there are some cobbled sectors again, and then there’s a circuit for the final. It’s pretty straightforward, pan flat, and again we’ll be going for a result with Kaden.”
2022 Dwars door het Hageland – Race Details:
Saturday, 11th June: Aarschot to Diest, 181.6km
2022 Elfstedenronde – Race Details:
Sunday, 12th June: Bruges to Bruges, 192.3 km
Photo: Getty Sport
