Due to a knee injury recently sustained in a crash, Moreno Hofland doesn't expect himself to be as fast in the Belgian season's opening weekend as last year, when he took a slightly unexpected runner-up spot in Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne. The 24-year old Dutchman is ready to take over the responsibility in sprinters' friendly affairs after Theo Bos jumped the ship and hopes to live up to high expectation as the spring campaign progresses.

Playing a comfortable role of an outsider last year, Hofland is aware that he will have to step up and take bigger responsibility this time around, being forced to fill the shoes of Bos together with another young and promising fast finisher signed for 2015, Tom Van Asbroeck.

„As Theo Bos is no longer an option, Tom Van Asbroeck and I are the fastest men. It's what we have always been expected to become,” Hofland told ANP, according to Wielerupdate.

Despite being very confident about a possibility of improving on his results obtained in Flemish classics last season, preparations of the 24-year old Dutchman towards Kuurne didn't go smoothly. A crash in the Ruta del Sol resulted with a sharp knee injury and prevented him from contesting sprints in the event.

„It has been bothering me for several days, but it's getting better. My condition had been good before [the crash took place] and it's still the case. It's a big shame, though, that I wasn't able to mix it up in the sprints.”

Despite a little setback he suffered during his final build-up, Hofland look forward to the upcoming Flemish classics with confidence.

„I have a feeling that the power is there. That's why I hope to do well later this spring, at Gent-Wavelgem, which is just a little heavy than for example Ronde van Vlaanderen. I will look forward to that.”