Tomorrow marks the newest edition of the Veenendaal-Veenendaal Classic. This UCI 1.1 race has undergone more name and UCI-level changes than the BincBank Tour, although they're gunning for World Tour status in a few years. They're paving the way in that direction, as this years edition will see double the number of WT-squads at the start compared to last year. First, a short look back at last year.

In 2016 the race was still called the Arnhem-Veenendaal Classic. The most notable feature of the race was a loop that took the racers several times over the Posbank, a berg that served as one of the first KOMs of that years Giro. The AVC also kept a mountain classification based on this hill, which was won with a distance by Orica's Christian Meyer. (This was the last race he finished before retiring!) The race was animated by several Joker riders riding a brave team time trial to bridge from peloton to the break. In the end, the peloton caught up, and sprinter Dylan Groenewegen won for the second year in a row.

Although I can't find a profile for this year's race, I have seen the map and it looks like it will be an even flatter ride. Although the Posbank is still on it, the riders won't lap it as often and there will be no official KOM. We take the Emma Pyramide, a different ascent on the same range as the Posbank three times. It's neither long nor extremely steep, but with a gradient between 6 and 8% it's not to be discounted. In theory, even more a race for the sprinters this year, but the selected riders tell a different tale.

Reigning champion and fast man Groenewegen won't start. Many teams have chosen to send a more classics type of squad. As riders make the race, this might greatly change the way the race is ridden.

The most notable sprinters are surely Moreno Hofland and Luka Mezgec. Mezgec is in good shape, taking his national championship and a stage in the Tour of Slovenia before placing well on stages in Poland and the European championships. Another sprinter to watch is Daniel Mclay, of the pro-continental Fortuneo squad. Although his last victory was in January, he managed several top 10 spots in the Tour de France and could be a contender here. 

Of the teams taking a more classics-type of approach, Cannondale is the most notable. Sending both Dylan van Baarle and Sep Vanmarcke, their team would be fitting for any higher level spring classic, although their rider Wouter Wippert could also very well contest a sprint in this field. Another notable classic's rider is Lars Boom, although I don't think he can surprise the sprinters again as in the BincBanktour and the national championship. (In both, he attacked in the final 2 km, derailing the sprinttrains and taking a stagewin in the BincBank). 

Continental riders to watch are Jan Willem Van Schip of Delta Cycling. He took a stage and sprinted well in the An Post Ràs, and is rumoured to move up a league in this transfer season. He might give the final sprint a try, or opt for visibility in the break. Someone who I certainly expect to try to get in the break is An Post-Chainreaction's Bas Tietema. This Dutch rider in Irish service to the sprinters jersey in the recent Tour de Alsace by lapping up intermediate sprints from the break. I'm also curious as to how that team's Jonas Bokeloh might place in the final sprint.

Stars:

***** Luka Mezgec

**** Sep Vanmarke, Moreno Hofland,

*** Daniel McLay, Lars Boom, Wouter Wippert

** 

* Jonas Bokeloh, Jan Willem Van Schip, Tim Merlier, Mitch Docker