Team Picnic PostNL coach Pim Ligthart: “Dwars door Vlaanderen serves as the final stepping stone towards Ronde van Vlaanderen, offering a challenging mix of cobbled climbs and technical roads that demand both strength and sharp race instincts. While not as long as some of the other Flemish classics, the relentless succession of hills and tricky sections makes for an unpredictable and selective race. Our goal is clear: we want to be in the final with Sean and John. With smart teamwork and the right positioning, we aim to place ourselves in the decisive moves when the race really comes to life. To do that we need to race proactively and seize our opportunities.”