Team Giant-Alpecin will line up for its first semi-classic of the season this weekend at the 70th edition of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, in Belgium.

Back in 2014, Zico Waeytens finished 15th here and he returns to line-up for his first Belgium classic with Team Giant-Alpecin. Waeytens is joined by Nikias Arndt who showed strong form in the crosswinds at the Tour of Qatar, together with Bert De Backer, Ramon Sinkeldam, Tom Stamsnijder and Albert Timmer all of whom raced in the echelons in the desert. 

Roy Curvers will be the team's captain on the road, and he completes the line-up together with the experience of Koen de Kort.

"After a good period of preparation in training and racing over the last few months we are ready for the start of the classics season in Belgium," confirmed coach Rudi Kemna. "With the line-up we bring here we have a strong unit and making the most of this overall strength will be important for us on Saturday. We will favour the strength of the collective rather than designating one leader.

"To stay in control we will look towards being in the important breaks so as to not waste energy needlessly ahead of the final. Then late on we hope to use all of our personal strengths together to go for a strong result."