Today a selection of Wanty-Groupe Gobert riders did a recon of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad course up until the cobbles of the Lange Munte. The selections for the two races in the opening weekend are determined. 

Marco Marcato, Bjorn Leukemans, Mirko Selvaggi, Frederik Veuchelen, Frederik Backaert, Jérôme Baugnies, Kévin Van Melsen and Tim De Troyer will be at the start in the first Belgian classic.

For Marco Marcato it means the return to the Flemish cobbles and the opening weekend after a year of absence in 2014. In 2012 the now 31-year old Italian finished sixth in the Omloop. 

“After a year of absence I am looking forward to the Flemish opening weekend even more. Ever since I ride with Hilaire Van Der Schueren, with Collstrop in 2008, these races are special to me. The Omloop is a nervous race where up to 20-25 riders can win instead of a short list of favorites of maybe 5-6 riders." 

Marcato rode the Etoile de Bessèges and helped Roy Jans win a stage in the south of France. Unfortunately the Italian had to leave the Volta ao Algarve after one day because of illness.

“I am still guessing after my form now but I do feel good. I hope to do a good race on Saturday and help Roy in the best way I can in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday. Kuurne isn't such a hard race on paper but the weather in Belgium makes it very unpredictable," Marcato concludes. 

Marcato and Jans will be joined in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne by Danilo Napolitano, James Vanlandschoot, Simone Antonini, Mirko Selvaggi and Frederik Veuchelen. The eighth rider will be determined after the Omloop. 
 

Sports director Steven De Neef travels to France for the Drôme Classic and the Classic Sud-Ardèche. The selection for these UCI 1.1-races consists of: Enrico Gasparotto, Yannick Eijssen, Marco Minnaard, Francis De Greef, Jan Ghyselinck, Boris Dron, Tom Devriendt & Lander Seynaeve.