The eighth edition of the Antwerp Port Epic (1.1), set to take place on Whit Monday, has succeeded in attracting eight World Tour teams: Alpecin-Deceuninck, Arkéa-B&B Hotels, Cofidis, Intermarché-Wanty, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, Soudal Quick-Step, Picnic-PostNL, and XDS Astana.
The essence of this race remains unchanged. The Antwerp Port Epic features a mix of cobblestone sections and unpaved paths, earning it the nickname “Flemish Strade Bianche.” Competitors will start from Schengen Square in Antwerp, tackling a 182.23-kilometre route in and around the port. At the 62-kilometre mark, they will reach the renowned Kabeljauwpad in Zandvliet. From there, cobblestone and unpaved sections follow in quick succession. The Beenhouwerstraat in Ekeren marks the end of the cobbled stretches before the return to Schengen Square, leaving just 12 kilometres to the finish.
Last year, Norwegian Alexander Kristoff claimed victory, but he will not participate this time. Notable contenders include Tibor del Grosso and Quinten Hermans (Alpecin-Deceuninck). The provisional start list also features Arnaud Démare and Florian Sénéchal (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Aimé De Gendt and Stanislaw Aniolkowski (Cofidis), Biniam Girmay and Arne Marit (Intermarché-Wanty), Sam Welsford (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Tim Merlier and Yves Lampaert (Soudal Quick-Step), Nils Eekhoff (Team Picnic-PostNL), Mike Teunissen (XDS Astana), Hugo Hofstetter (Israel-Premier Tech), Toon Aerts and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto), and Giacomo Nizzolo (Q36.5).
It remains to be seen whether the finish at Schengen Square will result in a sprint. The course is selective enough that a small group might break away from the peloton.
