Milan-San Remo 2021 fast approaches and Deceuninck - Quick-Step have revealed their daunting line-up for the Italian Monument.
The Belgian WorldTour squad will have plenty of options when the race hits the famous Via Roma in San Remo on Saturday (March 20), including world champion Julian Alaphilippe and star sprinter Sam Bennett.
Alaphilippe will be hoping to repeat his unforgettable win in the 2019 edition, this time in the prestigious rainbow jersey, while Bennett will be hoping for the first bunch sprint finish in San Remo since 2016.
Alongside their star riders, Deceuninck will be fielding an experienced Classics squad, including the likes of Zdenek Štybar, Yves Lampaert, and Kasper Asgreen.
Davide Ballerini is another sprinter capable of taking victory in San Remo, after taking the 2021 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad title in a bunch sprint last month.
Finally, Tim Declercq will be taking up the work-horse duties for Deceuninck in the 299km-long one-day race.
Sports director Davide Bramati said: “In the past couple of years, we have always featured in the finale at San Remo. We won’t hide the fact that we would like to do it again this Saturday, but at the same time we know that we are not the favourites for this edition.
"On the other hand, the riders are really keen on doing their best in this first Monument of the season and we’ll just see what happens.
But Deceuninck riders will face tough competition from their rivals, including Strade Bianche winner Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) and the reigning Milan-San Remo champion Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma).
Last season, Alaphilippe had to settle for an impressive second place behind an in-form Wout van Aert, after the pair went clear of the peloton on the Poggio.
Despite a strong chasing effort from the bunch, Van Aert and Alaphilippe held off their rivals by just two seconds at the finish.
Deceuninck - Quick-Step squad for Milan-San Remo 2021
Julian Alaphilippe (Fra)
Sam Bennett (Irl)
Davide Ballerini (Ita)
Zdenek Štybar (Cze)
Kasper Asgreen (Den)
Yves Lampaert (Bel)
Tim Declercq (Bel)
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