Nikias Arndt leads a six-rider lineup for Bahrain Victorious at the 63rd edition of Brabanste Pijl. Starting in Leuven, the riders will race 205.1km, taking on 25 climbs before finishing in Overijse, making up a total of just over 2000 vertical metres. Following a crash-marred Roubaix, Bahrain Victorious are without Dusan Rajovic is ruled out due to injury.

Supporting Arndt will be Milan, Poels, Miholjevic, Govekar and debutant Nicolo Burrati, recently promoted from the Bahrain Victorious under-23 development team CTF.

Nikias, who is notably the trusted lead-out man, is looking forward to his own opportunity: ” I’m really looking forward to tomorrow, and I’m expecting another hard race. We will also have some rain again, making it a tough race especially coming into the circuit. It will be super selective. But I think we as a team should be looking for a reduced bunch sprint, with a smaller group coming to the finish line.

I’m feeling quite good, and if we get to the finish with the reduced group, that will give me the best chance where I can try to go for the sprint. Motivation is high, so let’s see what tomorrow brings.”