Eeckhout is Mr. Dwars

The 30th edition of Dwars door Vlaanderen will take place today in Waregem, Belgium. One of the most successful riders in recent years is Niko Eeckhout (An Post - Sean Kelly Team). He won the race in 2001 and 2005 and in the last eight years finished in the top six seven times.

His 2001 victory was memorable for his break that lasted most of the 201-kilometre race. He took off with teammate Thierry Marichal at kilometre eight and rode the last 50km by himself.

Eeckhout told Sportwereld that signs point towards a third win. "The last weeks I felt my form getting better. The weather forecast is to my advantage." The last couple of days Belgium has seen heavy rain showers and strong gusts of wind.

Dwars door Vlaanderen is a good preparation race for the upcoming bigger Classics. At 200km it is not quite as long as the Ronde van Vlaanderen, but the ten little climbs include some of the Ronde's hellingen, like the Oude Kwaremont, the Berendries or the Patersberg.