Traditionally the second part of the Belgian opening weekend is Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday.

Unpredictable weather conditions will be the order of the day according to Greipel who points out the necessity of staying alert at all times, “That the condition is good and the weather is gloomy, are factors that are obvious. Apart from that Kuurne will be my first classic, and I want to prove myself in it. The race itself is most of the times very fast, with a lot of attacks, but in the end there is often a sprint, although that usually is with a smaller group. And I have to be part of it this on Sunday. Last year I hesitated and got closed in.”

Greipel is not concerned by the presence of rival sprinter Mark Cavendish in Sunday’s Belgian semi classic. “There is pressure at the start of every race, but the presence of guys like Jürgen Roelandts and soon also Lars Bak makes it easier. Roelandts is someone who can take his chance in a smaller group and can finish it. To me Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, Milan – San Remo and Ghent-Wevelgem are the principal goals of the spring season. The fact that Mark Cavendish will race on Sunday doesn’t make me feel any different. He won the race last year, he’s a very good sprinter, but I do my own thing.”