Tomorrow the E3 Harelbeke completes the second step of many riders’ three-step preparation for the Tour of Flanders on Sunday March 31 (after Dwars door Vlaanderen and before Gent-Wevelgem). Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) is one of many riders who want to know if he's ready for high level competition following a rather trouble-infested start to this season.

“This week I had good training here in Belgium,” Boonen explained on the team website. “I am really looking forward to the next two races, both Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem. I want to see how I will react in a final and against the guys who are the favourites, the guys who are always there in a final like these. I am hoping for the best. For sure one of my objectives is to get a good result, but I am also realistic and I know I have to survive to the final. I have to be there, and if I will be there it's the first final in a long time for me. It's important to get back in that situation again, to get the good feeling back, to be there to fight. It will be important for me to see if the work I've done is enough.”

Already a five-time winner at E3, Boonen is looking to add to his tally. “I am happy to race tomorrow because Harelbeke is one of my favourites ever. I won here five times, and every time when I am at the start of the race or in the final it's something special for someone like me, who really likes this kind of parcour.”

You can follow live action from both E3 Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem here on Cyclingquotes.com