It always helps to have options in Ghent-Wevelgem, where wind and rain from the North Sea coast hit the peloton.

With this contingency in mind, Lot Doustony will use Caleb Yuan and Arnaud Des Rieres for Sunday's race, following last week's Milan-San Remo.

In doing so, the younger De Lier dropped out of the peloton on the Cipressa, while Ewan stood out on the lower slopes of the Poggio, but ultimately had to settle for 16th on the Via Roma after the lead group broke apart near the top of the final climb.

They will try again in Ghent-Wevelgem. This race always attracts sprinters, but they are only occasionally rewarded with a group finish on the Maenenstraat. Of the last 10 finishes, only three have been contested by a group of 20 or more.

However, Yuan is eager to compete in Ghent-Wevelgem for the third time after finishing 101st in 2017 and abstaining during the 2020 event, which was postponed due to a pandemic.

"Last time I didn't start with the mindset of winning, but this time I will," Ewan told Sporza (open in new tab). "It depends on how the race unfolds, but I believe we can do well in this race. If the conditions are not too difficult, we will be in contention. If not, Arnaud might have the advantage, but we both want to be in the race.

De Lier made little impact on his Ghent-Wevelgem debut a year ago, but has been impressive in both of his cobbled races since the start of 2023, finishing second in Omloop-Het Nuusblad last month and seventh in Coulée Brusse-Koenet the following day. The following day, he was seventh in the Coulée Brusse-Coone. The Lotto-Dostny team kept him away from the E3 Saxo Classic with a view to running at the front in Ghent-Wevelgem.

"Classical sprinters have won here in the past. Caleb prefers short sprints and I prefer long sprints, but if one of us wins, that's what matters most."

Ewan and De Lier are usually apart on the race program, but the Australian insisted that there is no problem with their coexistence.

"There is no rivalry between us, we both speak honestly about how we feel during the race and we help each other, just like Arnaud did for me in the Milan - San Remo Cipressa," Ewan said, suggesting that Ghent-Wevelgem might be a better fit for his young teammate.

"I am a good teammate.

"I am more of a pure bunch sprinter, but Arnaud is more versatile in sprinting and the classics suit him better."

The heavy rain and plummeting temperatures expected on Sunday will no doubt affect how the race unfolds. Hopefully the wind won't be too strong," Ewan said. If the race is selective and tough, we have a chance. If one of our team wins, I'll be happy."

Lotto Doustony is not the only team with two sprinters on Sunday. Defending champion Wout Van Aert is in Jumbo Visma with Olaf Kooij, while Sourdal-Quickstep has also added Tim Merlier and Fabio Jacobsen to its lineup after a modest showing in the E3 Saxo Classic.

Incidentally, Ghent-Wevelgem is a race that Quick-Step has long been without a win, with the last victory coming in 2012 by Tom Boonen.

Nico Mattan controversially defeated Juan Antonio Flecha in 2005, but De Lier's ability gives Lotto Destony ample reason to hope for more on Sunday.