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Giant Shimano recon Het Nieuwsblad and Flanders

Dutch team on the cobbles ahead of Spring campaign

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Dries Devenyns inspects his new Giant bike

Dries Devenyns inspects his new Giant bike (Image credit: Giant Shimano)
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Koen de Kort and Ramon Sinkeldam hit the cobbles in Belgium

Koen de Kort and Ramon Sinkeldam hit the cobbles in Belgium (Image credit: Giant Shimano)
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One of Giant Shimano's new signings Dries Devenyns

One of Giant Shimano's new signings Dries Devenyns (Image credit: Giant Shimano)
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Roy Curvers before his training ride

Roy Curvers before his training ride (Image credit: Giant Shimano)
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The Giant Shimano team have started the 2014 season in fine form

The Giant Shimano team have started the 2014 season in fine form (Image credit: Giant Shimano)
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The team will be hoping to spring a surprise or two on the cobbles

The team will be hoping to spring a surprise or two on the cobbles (Image credit: Giant Shimano)
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The Giant Shimano team out training

The Giant Shimano team out training (Image credit: Giant Shimano)

Ahead of this weekend’s curtain raiser for the cobbled season, Giant Shimano have taken the opportunity to ride reconissance over the final 100 kilometres of Saturday’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. The Dutch outfit will take part in the weekend’s double bill too, with Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne taking place on Sunday. The team also used a training session last week in order to ride sections of the new Tour of Flanders route.

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"It was great seeing the last 100km of both Het Nieuwsblad and Flanders, and to get back on the cobbles again," said Koen de Kort.

"It's not long until the classics season starts and everyone is getting really motivated and it eager to put the testing to good use."

The team were using the exercise to test out their new Giant Defy Advanced SL bikes, having made the shift from Felt to Giant over the winter.

"Training on these Flemish roads is like a school trip to the playground for a pro-cyclis," said Roy Curvers in a team press release.

Both Koen de Kort and Roy Curvers are set to line up for Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday with Ramon Sinkeldam, Tom Stamsnijder, Albert Timmer, Bert de Backer, Dries Devenyns and Reinardt Janse van Rensburg completing the line-up.

Sprinters Marcel Kittel and John Degenkolb are set to miss both Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne this weekend.

To see the gallery from Giant-Shimano’s recon, click here.