Quick-Step Floors have named what is one of the strongest Tour of Flanders squads in years, with almost every member of the squad potentially being capable of winning the race.
Tom Boonen is, on paper at least, the team’s leader, and will be riding his final Tour of Flanders, having previously won the race on three occasions.
Boonen will be supported by two riders who have previously finished on the podium at the race in Philippe Gilbert and Niki Terpstra, with Gilbert looking in scintillating form so far this spring, finishing second at Dwars Door Vlaanderen and E3 Harelbeke.
Watch: Tour of Flanders 2017 essential guide
Finishing ahead of Gilbert at Dwars Door Vlaanderen was Yves Lampaert, who also makes the team, while there are also places for Zdenek Stybar, who has finished in the top ten of Flanders in the previous two years, and Matteo Trentin, who was in the top ten at both Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels Kuurne earlier in the year.
Completing the line-up are two more Belgians, Iljo Keisse and Julien Vermote, who may not have the major victories of some of their team-mates, but are still often present in the front group in major races.
The Belgian team has a strong history in the race, having won it five times since their formation in 2003, even if their last victory came back in 2012.
Full Quick-Step Floors line-up:
Tom Boonen
Philippe Gilbert
Iljo Keisse
Yves Lampaert
Zdenek Stybar
Niki Terpstra
Matteo Trentin
Julien Vermote
