The 1st of September marks the start of the traditional Belgium Schaal Sels race, in which 188 riders will compete on the demanding circuit course covering roughly 200 kilometres through the city of Antwerp. Team NetApp – Endura’s Blaz Jarc came in fourth here last year. This year the team will once again be starting with a strong line-up of sprinters.

Sport Director Christian Pömer commented: “We also see Schaal Sels as a test for the Tour of Britain, which is another highlight of the season. On the completely flat course in Antwerp we can attempt to prepare our sprinters even better for the upcoming race in Great Britain.”

The race will start and end in Antwerp’s Merksem district. After a large northern loop to the Hoogerheide in the Netherlands, riders must complete nine technically demanding final laps on cobblestones and through narrow streets in downtown Antwerp. In recent years the winner has either been decided through targeted attacks or in a mass sprint.