Omega Pharma-Quick Step will look to their Ardennes specialists when they line up for this weekend's pair of hard races in France, Boucles du Sud-Ardeche and La Drome Classic. The team is spearheaded by an in-form Gianni Meersman who is fresh off a victory in Mallorca, while Jan Bakelants will line up for his second race for his new Belgian team.

While the team's contingent of cobbled classics specialists prepare themselves for their first major challenges in the Belgian opening weekend, the Ardennes specialists of Omega Pharma-Quick Step ready themselves for a pair of hard one-day races in France. Gianni Meersman will be back in action after winning the final race in the Challenge Mallorca while Jan Bakelants will do his first race since January's Tour Down Under.

On Saturday, Meersman returns to the 200km Classic Sud-Ardèche after placing 6th in the 2013 edition. There are about 11 climbs to conquer in the race. The 197km La Drôme Classic features nine punchy ascents, meaning the all-rounders will be favored on such a parcours.
 

"Most of the guys who will take part in this race came from a training camp that the team organized in Algarve last week," Sport Director Davide Bramati said. "Also, Michal Golas was one of the strong riders in support of Michal Kwiatkowski at Volta ao Algarve last week. Carlos Verona and Jan Bakelants are coming to this race after a training period in Spain. For Bakelants it will be a return to competition for the first time since Tour Down Under.

"Then we have Gianni Meersman, who was 6th last year at Classic Sud-Ardèche. He is motivated from his victory at Trofeo Platja de Muro not long ago. It was the earliest he won a race in his career. We have a good team ready for the short and steep climbs, who are ready for any race scenario, and we will do our best for good results in this pair of French races."

Omega Pharma-Quick Step for Boucles du Sud-Ardeche and La Drome Classic

Gianni Meersman, Jan Bakelants, Carlos Verona, Serge Pauwels, Pieter Serry, Michal Golas, Julian Alaphilippe, and Gianluca Brambilla