Adam Blythe (BMC Racing) is looking forward to this week’s duo of Belgian semi-Classic races, the Nokere Koerse and Handzame Classic, where he will be aiming to take his first sprint victory of the season. The 23-year-old British sprinter took two fourth places in the Tour of Qatar - as well as being part of BMC Racing’s team time trial winning team - and finished the race fourth overall, but now hopes for better fortune in his first Belgian races of the season.
Blythe finished third in last year’s Handzame Classic, and is looking for an improvement in both races this time.
"I'm looking forward to racing some races that suit me," he said. "Both races this week I want to win.
“Nokere is always a sprint finish,” he explained. “I just have go get a good position for the sprint, which is a 250-meter rise to the finish on cobbles. It's the same with Handzame. It's normally a small group of 20 to 30 riders at the finish. I hope to be there and to feel good and have a good sprint in me."
The BMC Racing Team will be putting its strength behind Blythe in both races - both of which are ranked as 1.1 in the calendar - but, with wintry conditions returning to northern Europe, the American team will be keeping its options open.
"We will see how the weather and conditions play out and be mindful of other opportunities if they present themselves," said assistant directer sportif Jackson Stewart. "But Blythe will be our fastest finisher and I think we have a good roster to support him in these races."
Both races were won by Italian sprinter Francesco Chicchi in 2012, who has since transferred from the Belgian Omega Pharma-Quick Step team to Italian Vini Fantini-Selle Italia.
BMC Racing Team Nokere Koerse roster (March 13):
Adam Blythe, Marcus Burghardt, Yannick Eijssen, Martin Kohler, Sebastian Lander, Steve Morabito, Larry Warbasse, Danilo Wyss
BMC Racing Team Handzame Classic roster (March 15):
Adam Blythe, Marcus Burghardt, Yannick Eijssen, Martin Kohler, Sebastian Lander, Steve Morabito, Larry Warbasse, Danilo Wyss