Benoot has had a good spring season so far, with several strong results. In the Flèche Wallonne, despite a crash, he finished twelfth. “In the Flèche Wallonne, I was involved in a crash. Luckily, I was still able to play a role in the finale. I hope the crash won't have too much of an impact on Liège-Bastogne-Liège, so I can also play a role in the finale there.”

Maassen also reflects positively on the tough, rainy Flèche Wallonne. “Wednesday was an extremely tough race with a lot of rain and cold. I look back on this race with a good feeling, and it seems that our riders have recovered well from it.”

“I've been feeling much better in the last few races”, continues the Belgian rider. “There’s clearly been an upward trend, and I hope I can continue this towards Sunday in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, so I can close my spring campaign on a positive note.”

However, a nice result in La Doyenne is not a given, and the former winner of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne knows this all too well. “The approach to the finale has become even harder. Looking at the Amstel Gold Race and the Flèche Wallonne, I expect a real battle of exhaustion. I expect UAE Team Emirates, XRG, and Soudal Quick-Step to make it a very tough race.”

“As a team, we need to find a good moment in the race to anticipate”, continues the 30-year-old rider. “However, that won’t be easy at all. There will be a lot of control in the peloton, and on top of that, it’s also a very tough race.”

So, the yellow-black team doesn't have the top favorite in their ranks for Sunday, but they still hope to achieve the best result possible. “We line up on Sunday with a mix of young talents and experienced riders. It’s great for the young riders in the team to race a monument like Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Additionally, we’re aiming for the best possible result with Benoot, Tulett, and Valter", concludes Maassen.

Alongside Benoot, Tulett, and Valter, Tosh Van der Sande, Julien Vermote, Tijmen Graat, and Loe van Belle complete the seven-rider selection for Team Visma | Lease a Bike.