Last week Jens Keukeleire (27) watched from a training camp while his Orica-GreenEDGE team took four stage victories and the overall win with Simon Gerrans at the Tour Down Under. "That's nice for Simon," said Keukeleire. "After such an unlucky season, he deserves some success again." Keukeleire is also pleased to have good news from his girlfriend who is expecting a first child.

No Tour of Qatar or Oman or Mallorca Challenge, the Tour of Valencia and other European preparation races for Jens Keukeleire in 2016. The West Fleming will make his debut at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Before that, he do three weeks of training with the team in South Africa.

"Last year, some guys from the team prepared for the new season in that way," he tells Het Nieuwsblad. "Opinions were divided afterwards, one did not like it, others had really benefited. Look at Michael Matthews: He won his first race immediately with a stage in Paris-Nice and was third in his second race, Milan-Sanremo. Perhaps it will also be positibe for me."

All 24 riders will be present in South Africa. Keukeleire departs next Monday, on February 1 and will return on February 22. The team flies to Johannesburg and then it is another three to four hours in a car to Crystal Springs Mountain Lodge, about 1800 meters above sea level.

"It will be an intensive camp," explains Keukeleire. "I'm looking forward to that. It will be something special, but who knows if it is the secret recipe to success. Last year we rode Qatar and Oman but not the Belgian opening weekend. Now there are three weeks of training and then immediately the start in the Omloop and in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. I don't have to 'peak' in the first races and the team expects no results until later in the season. I have had a carefree winter and took care of myself and prepared. Last season I had a turbulent preparation and I only reached peak condition in Paris-Roubaix where I finished sixth. I hope to extend that trend this season. I must now be in top form earlier. I think I've already taken steps forward. It must be possible to be on the podium in the big spring races," he adds. "That's the ambition and I continue to dream about it."

After Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-Sanremo, Dwars door Vlaanderen, E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix follow. "I will do everything in Flanders, except for the Three Days of De Panne-Koksijde. It is also new that I will do a bit more after Paris-Roubaix," Keukeleire sats. "Also, the Brabantse Pijl and the Amstel Gold Race are now on my program."