There was much talk this spring about Jumbo Visma's "Winning Together" slogan, "Samen Winnen," and how it compares to the old Mapei team's "Vincere Insieme" and Quick Step's current "Wolfpack" brand There was. However, there is no doubt that the flag flying highest in the world of professional cycling right now is SD Works' "Flow with the Go."

While this motto may seem essentially meaningless in and of itself, it is emblematic of a broader philosophy, honed by bikepacking trips to California, that has seen the Dutch team dominate the classics so far this spring.

This is nothing new, given that the team had similar success and similar harmonies during the Boels-Dolman era, but this year the team spirit seems stronger than ever.

Team director and former pro Lars Boom told Cycling News after Demi Vollering's win in Wednesday's Dwars Door Hlaanderen made it six Classics this spring.

"This group of girls is working especially well. There is a great atmosphere at the hotel. We're having fun and I think that's what cycling is all about."

"We're having fun and that's what cycling is all about.

Vollering herself claimed that the atmosphere at the team camp is better than ever. The Dutchwoman is a relative newcomer, joining in 2021, and has become one of the top riders in the world, but sees improvements from the already successful 2022.

"We have grown a lot as a team," she said. 'The team spirit is super, super good this year. There's a strong desire to do everything we can for everyone."

SD Walks is employing a multi-leader strategy for the Classic, as Jumbo Visma's men's team now does, and as Quick Step and Mapei frequently do.

In Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Lotte Kopecky won solo, with Lorena Wiebes chasing from the back of the pack.

In the main races of the Flanders Classics, Maren Reuser won Gent-Wevelgem and Vollering won Dwars Dua Hlaanderen.

"We are a team and we win races because we are a team," Boom said.

"You saw it today [at Dwars]. Demi attacks and Marlen immediately helps her with the second wheel (disrupting the chase). That's why she wins. That's why Mahren won in Ghent-Wevelgem and Lotte won in Flanders last year. We are a team.

Like night follows day, the surplus of star players is accompanied by question marks over ego, hierarchy, and harmony.

In Strade Bianche, Vollering had a sprint match with Kopecký. Some found it refreshing that there were no gifts or choreography, while others used it as fuel for the storyline of an internal rivalry. On the other hand, there are subtle indications that Kopecký may be somewhat "stuck" in a crowded house, as Belgians generally tend to expect from their own stars.

"Right now, in Belgium, they are looking for everything," Boom said, dismissing any hint of controversy.

Volering corroborated this at a press conference, giving an impassioned response to a question from Kopecký about internal tensions.

"No, no, no. 'This is really good for Lotte. If I or Marlen or someone else is already in front of her, she can do what I do and vice versa. That makes us stronger as a team."

"In our team, if the team wins, it doesn't matter who wins. This spirit really lives in our team. Everyone is supported by this spirit. If you do something for someone on the team, it will come back to you one day. There are no bad feelings within the team and we don't feel like we are competing against each other. 0]

But where does this team spirit come from? In a sense, the team spirit was there before Volering and Boom arrived on the team, as it was a few years ago with the combination of players like Anna van der Breggen, Lizzie Deignan, and Chantal van den Broeck-Blake.

But as new faces come through the revolving door, it needs to continue to be nurtured, and both Vollering and Boom have made the team's winter camp an important bonding experience.

First, there was a trip to California in November, funded by American bicycle supplier Specialized, where they all experienced bikepacking.

"The trip to California was a big part of our bikepacking and being so close to each other. We've had a great team spirit ever since," Volering said. [We've been together a few times at other camps, and sometimes I thought, 'Maybe that's a little too much. But now that we know each other better, it's fine.'

Boom added. 'It all started with our first camp, this year we camped in the US and cooked for each other. Then we had three camps in a big house in Spain, where we stayed together, cooked meals together, helped each other, played games together. There, we never saw each other all night, even when we returned to our hotel rooms after dinner. I think the basics are laid there."

The final decision will come after the Tour de Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, but it all seems to be bearing fruit. Boom insisted that they do not feel they are "invincible," but said they do not know how things could be better now.

Asked about comparisons to Jumbo Visma, Mapei, and Quickstep, he grinned: "This is Team SD Walks.