The Dutch LottoNL-Jumbo squad has checked all the boxes in its preparation for the first foray into the Spring Classics, and former Omloop Het Nieuwsblad winner Sep Vanmarcke is looking to regain his place on the podium on Saturday. After suffering a stinging defeat to Tom Boonen in Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne last year, Moreno Hofland has more confidence in his sprint and is looking for a victory in Sunday's test.
In 2014, riding as Belkin, the squad went winless in the Classics: the closest they came was Lars Boom's impressive Tour de France win over the Paris-Roubaix cobbles to Arenburg on stage 5. This year, with Vanmarcke putting in a satisfactory performance in the Volta ao Algarve, and Hofland happy with his form after the Vuelta a Andalucia, the team is optimistic for the weekend.
"I've been able to prepare myself properly in the Volta ao Algarve," Vanmarcke said. "It was a perfect race. The weather was great and the course was tough. I even made it into a breakaway one day. I purposely dropped out after a while, so that I could get in the mix in the final, as well. I was specifically training for the classics."
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Last year, the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad took place in miserable weather, with temperatures just above freezing and steady rain. Vanmarcke made the winning breakaway, but missed out on the podium after Ian Stannard (Team Sky) and Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing) left the rest behind, and Edvald Boasson Hagen claimed the last podium spot from Vanmarcke. The following day, Belkin were outnumbered by Omega Pharma-Quickstep in the breakaway, and Hofland and Vanmarcke had to settle for second and third, respectively, behind Boonen.
"The Omloop and Kuurne are two completely different races. The Omloop is an open race, which often sees many attacks. The strongest rider doesn't always win because of the tactical battle," Vanmarcke said.
"Kuurne often ends in a sprint. I hope for bad weather on Sunday so that it will be a real race. My most important races are scheduled later, but I feel that I'm going to be good this weekend. I'm ready."
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