Niki Terpstra starts a second Classics season for Total Direct Énergie(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Alexander Kristoff and his UAE teammates on the cobbles(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Kristoff switches from the Colnago Concept aero bike to Colnago V3Rs climbing bike this spring(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Van Avermaet and Trentin take centre stage at the CCC press conference(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)
Wout van Aert (centre) at the Jumbo-Visma press conference(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)
Sonny Colbrelli, Dylan Teuns and Heinrich Haussler at the Bahrain-McLaren press conference(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)
Teams have arrived in Belgium ahead of Opening Weekend – Saturday's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Sunday's Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne – and have been out on the Flanders roads to recon the cobbles and the hills despite the terrible weather conditions.
With the weather forecast for both races looking poor, multiple teams have braved the sleet, snow and rain to get accustomed to the conditions out on the road ahead of the cobbled Classics openers.
Greg Van Avermaet was out with several of his Belgian CCC teammates on Wednesday, while NTT Pro Cycling – led by Michael Valgren – were caught up in a snowstorm during their Thursday training ride.
Conditions weren't much better for EF Pro Cycling either. Team leader Sep Vanmarcke managed to raise a smile though, despite the heavy rain that hit their training ride.
Jumbo-Visma enjoyed a dry ride as they hit the course on Friday, with Wout van Aert set to make his second Omloop appearance on Saturday. Alexander Kristoff and his UAE squad also went for a recon, as did Total Direct Énergie's Niki Terpstra.
Other teams out on the roads included Team Ineos, Mitchelton-Scott, Bora-Hansgrohe and Circus-Wanty Gobert. More teams are expected out on the cobbles on Friday, while rain and wind is forecast in the area throughout the weekend.
Cyclingnews will have full coverage of both races, including reports, live coverage, news and interviews. Find out how to watch Opening Weekend here.
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Click or swipe through the recon photo gallery to see the weather conditions in Belgium.
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