Team LottoNL-Jumbo wants to build up its confidence on Wednesday in Halle-Ingooigem for the national championships on Sunday. Sports Director Frans Maassen heads to the one-day race with three Belgian and five Dutch riders who will also compete in the nationals. 

“Halle-Ingooigem is our final preparation for the national championships,” Maassen said. “Halle is a home race for Sep Vanmarcke, who knows the course like the back of his hand. We aim for a result. We want to gain confidence towards the nationals. The closer to the first place, the better.”
 

Dennis van Winden will probably be at the front of the peloton on Wednesday in the final kilometres, if it comes down to a bunch sprint, to pull the sprint for Tom Van Asbroeck, Moreno Hofland or Barry Markus. 
 
“I expect an open race. Every one of us could win and with that spirit, we’ll start the race,” Van Winden said. “We’ll determine the exact tactics during the race. We have multiple fast sprinters. With the nationals coming up, Halle-Ingooigem is a good race to get in the mood for Sunday.”
 
Van Winden returned to Team LottoNL-Jumbo this spring. The 27-year-old Dutchman is starting to find his rhythm again.
 
“It feels like I never left, although of course I gained valuable experience at Team Baku. I feel home here with my team-mates and everyone makes me feel that they’re happy to have me back. In the Tour of California, I noticed that the level in the pro ranks much higher is than at the continental level. I really had to get used to it again. In the Dauphiné, the pace was even higher with all riders trying to prove themselves for the Tour, but I noticed that I’ve made steps.”
 
Team line-up:
Tom Van Asbroeck, Moreno Hofland, Nick van der Lijke, Barry Markus, Bram Tankink, Sep Vanmarcke, Dennis van Winden and Maarten Wynants.