Mads Pedersen and Jonathan Milan are on everyone's lips. The 2 formidable Lidl-Trek champions are among the main favorites today at the Dwars Door Vlaanderen (184 km). The "Through Flanders" will start from Roeselare (birthplace of Patrick Sercu) and end in Waregem after 10 walls and various cobblestone sections. Although a preview of the Tour of Flanders, Pogacar and Van Der Poel are not participating in the "Dwars". This makes Lidl-Trek the "beacon" team of the race, especially because Pedersen is coming off his 3rd triumph at Gent-Wevelgem achieved with a 56-kilometer solo breakaway.

"At the Through Flanders, many will be waiting for our moves," says Luca Guercilena, Lidl-Trek general manager. "Pedersen will race to win, but don't expect another epic performance. If he wins, he'll do it with a more conservative tactic, in a sprint or through a short breakaway: Mads must think about the Tour of Flanders on Sunday where he will be our diamond point."

Milan dreams of obtaining his seventh seasonal victory in Waregem. "Jonathan has the legs to win in Waregem and we are very happy with him. The Dwars Door Vlaanderen will be important for choosing our Tour of Flanders starters. Milan's participation on Sunday is not certain, we consider him more suitable for Roubaix."

Stuyven, Theuns, Skujins, Kirsch, and De Clerq represent a lead-out train that everyone envies Milan today. Guercilena lists some major Lidl-Trek rivals among the 175 protagonists: "Visma-Lease a Bike has Jorgenson and Van Baarle who have already won in Waregem and also Van Aert who is returning to competitions and, given his character, will want to do so in grand style. For me, Jorgenson and Van Baarle will help Van Aert. As a team, I put Visma as the first rival."

Regarding individuals, Alpecin-Deceuninck has Jasper Philipsen. "He's going very strong," admits Luca, "and he's very well-suited for the Through Flanders. At Gent-Wevelgem he punctured in the decisive phase. Philipsen was pedaling well, without the puncture he wouldn't have been out of contention so easily."

Today, Tim Merlier should logically be added to the "formidable" list in case of a sprint. Davide Ballerini, 6th at Wevelgem, Italian Champion Alberto Bettiol, Luca Mozzato, Stefan Kung, and Magnus Sheffield are in a condition that can allow them to fight for top positions, along with Yves Lampaert who won in Waregem in 2017 and '18, the last Belgian in the honor roll.

Lidl-Trek also features the main favorite in the women's Dwars Door Vlaanderen, Elisa Balsamo, second at Wevelgem. Elisa boasts 3 significant seasonal victories and today can take advantage of Lorena Wiebes' absence. The women's "Dwars" (143 at the start) is 128 km long, and the number of walls, 7, does not worry Elisa Balsamo.

"She's significantly stronger compared to spring 2024," guarantees Luca. "She's one of the strongest sprinters in the world. Often the strongest. Lidl Trek will race solely to lead out her sprint."

Balsamo, Marianne Vos, Rachele Barbieri, and other sprinters will today fear Chiara Consonni (Canyon), first in Waregem in 2022. World Champion Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) and Italian Champion Elisa Longo Borghini (Uae-Adq) will try to win by breaking away or in a reduced sprint. They will also have to attack Letizia Paternoster, third in 2024, Maria Giulia Confalonieri, Vittoria Guazzini, Puck Pieterse, and Liane Lippert. On Sunday there's also the Women's Tour of Flanders, and Balsamo will likely not participate: "I'm focusing a lot on Paris-Roubaix," she recently said.