Team NetApp-Endura are ready to kick start their classics season in the Belgian opening weekend. Paul Voss and Zak Dempster will lead the team in Saturday's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad while Scott Thwaites and Blaz Jarc will get their chance in Sunday's expected bunch sprint in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.

After a month of preparation in warmer climates, the classic specialists in Team NetApp – Endura are now heading north. Traditionally the cobblestone season starts on Saturday with the 198-km-long Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Each year the one-kilometer shorter Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne takes place the following day.

Last year the snowfall and winter weather proved to be a dampener on the Belgian season opener. The latter race even had to be cancelled. The organizers are likely to be spared this fate this year; the weather forecasts are better.

Team NetApp - Endura travels to Flanders with a confident team of Paul Voß and Zak Dempster.

"In our view, Paul Voß and Zak Dempster should hold the best cards in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. In recent weeks as the lead out rider, Zak has shown that he already really has pressure on the pedal. Once the course has gone over many of the hellingen, which are also ridden during the Tour of Flanders, the route especially suits Paul Voß. With his performance in the Ronde last year he showed what he can do, and maybe this year he can produce a successful result at Nieuwsblad", says Sport Director Christian Pömer confidently.

The Belgian classic opener starts in Ghent. Then it heads south to the well-known short, steep, cobbled climbs of the Tour of Flanders. After 198 km, the racers arrive at the finish in Ghent.

The route at Kuurne-Brüssel-Kuurne is not quite as challenging. Admittedly the race on Sunday is only one kilometer shorter at 197 km, but the route from West Flanders to the Belgian capital and back is much flatter. The race often ends with a large group sprint.

"Kuurne is more a race for sprinters. In addition to Scott Thwaites, from the point of view of NetApp – Endura, Blac Jarc can be counted on. He set up home in Belgium specifically for the classics, and after his victory in Zottegem last year he knows exactly what is possible. I only hope that the guys have better weather this year", says NetApp – Endura's Sport Director Christian Pömer, outlining the road map for the Belgian season opener.

Team NetApp-Endura for Omloop Het Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne:

Zakkari Dempster, Paul Voss, Michael Schwarzmann, Jonathan McEvoy, Blaz Jarc, Scott Thwaites, Andreas Schillinger, and Ralf Matzka