Brussels (AFP)

The Dutchman Matthieu Van der Poel and the Belgian Wout Van Aert are the favorites of the 82nd edition of Gand-Wevelgem which, Covid obliges, will not go through France on Sunday.

Sprinters Alexander Kristoff, outgoing winner, Sam Bennett or Caleb Ewan will try to block them.

The classic "wind" (announced in strong gusts) will take place, unlike Paris-Roubaix, but will not take its traditional passage through France.

The WorldTour classified race will give pride of place to sprinters on an entirely Belgian course of 232.5 km, with eleven climbs and three 'Plugstreets' on the program.

The "Plugstreets" are semi-hard coated stretches in the village of Ploegsteert, near Ypres, which the British used to escape German troops during World War I.

Gand-Wevelgem has in fact associated for several years the sporting spirit of an international cycling event with the duty to remember the victims of the First World War.

The three Plugstreets sectors named 'Hill 63', 'Christmas Truce' and 'Catacombs' fulfill this objective.

Regarding the entries, the Norwegian Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates), defending champion, will be wary of the German John Degenkolb, winner in 2014, the main asset played by Lotto.

The Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen, victorious in 2009, will be that of NTT Pro Cycling.

But all eyes will be on Australian Caleb Ewan (Lotto), Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) (Lotto) and Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), and to a lesser extent on Belgian Oliver Naesen (Ag2r-La Mondiale).

Van der Poel and Van Aert are necessarily disappointed with the cancellation of Paris-Roubaix, the queen of the classics scheduled for October 25 and of which they were the favorites.

"Fortunately, I have already won some great races and I am satisfied with my season. But this cancellation is a real disappointment, explains the Belgian.

Same story with Van der Poel who had "specially prepared with the declared ambition to impose himself".

"In this context, Gand-Wevelgem takes on all the more importance", he concludes.

© 2020 AFP