After winning Brabantse Pijl with Petr Vakoc, Etixx-QuickStep are keen to let their younger riders lead at Amstel Gold, keeping Dan Martin out until Fleche Wallonne.

In an interview with Belgian newspaper Sudpresse, Patrick Lefevere confirmed that “we’re looking for a good result with our younger riders, and Dan Martin will subsequently [after Amstel] act as a reinforcement for them, even if I never have a Classics team with just one potential contender.”

Along with Vakoc is Julian Alaphilippe, who was seventh last year before he took second in the remaining two Ardennes Classics. He was strong in Brabantse as he continues to recover from mononucleosis but Lefevere isn’t sure if he can keep his punch after 260km at this stage in the process.

“I’m like him, realistic,” Lefevere told Sudpresse, “and there’s been a lot of ground for him to make up. He did very well in Brabantse Pijl, but will he be able to match the best on the Cauberg and the Mur de Huy? This time round, I’m secretly dreaming one of my riders will win Liege-Bastogne-Liege.”