Spratt returns for Team BikeExchange assault on Tour of Flanders

Australian rider Amanda Spratt has made a timely return to Team BikeExchange to boost their Tour of Flanders chances this weekend.

Amanda Spratt Source: AAP

Spratt rejoins fellow Aussies Grace Brown and Sarah Roy as the team look to build on several strong performances across the Belgian Classics campaign - with six top-10 finishes.

The Australian trio will be supported by Arianna Fidanza (Italy), Moniek Tenniglo (Netherlands) and Teniel Campbell (Trinidad and Tobago), who are all set to line-up this Sunday for ‘The Ronde’ - one of the toughest and most prestigious races on the women’s calendar.

"I think we have a really strong group of riders, with Spratty coming in and being fresh in the group, she has a lot of experience in this race and she’s perfect as a road captain," said Martin Vestby, Team BikeExchange Sport Director.

"The girls who have been doing the classics campaign seem to have grown together more and more.

"They’re learning every race and there’s been an improvement in every race, so we’re looking forward to Sunday.

"We have a couple of strong riders in the Classic group with Roy and Brown, and Spratty’s main goals are the Ardennes races, but Flanders is Flanders and we have to play with the cards that we have."

Brown, who scored a race victory at Brugge-De Panne, said: "I am definitely feeling relatively confident ahead of Flanders, it’s a really big race and another one that a lot of it is up to chance.

"My form is good, and I have been working on all of the other aspects of racing these classics as well, just improving the little things, so I am hoping to have a good race.

"The team has come together really well over the last few races here in Belgium and I think each race we are improving on the one before and we are working really well as a unit, so I expect to see that again in all its glory on Sunday."

Team BikeExchange at the Ronde van Vlaanderen:

Grace Brown (AUS)

Teniel Campbell (TTO)

Arianna Fidanza (ITA)

Sarah Roy (AUS)

Amanda Spratt (AUS)

Moniek Tenniglo (NED)