Lotto Soudal have been hit a major blow as they have lost their captain for Saturday's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Jurgen Roelandts is suffering from the flu and won't be able to start the races this weekend.

Yesterday Jurgen Roelandts tested the course for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and expressed hope that his new approach with less racing would pay off in the opening weekend. However, the Lotto Soudal leader won't be at the start in Ghent on Saturday.

"Fever, muscle pain, flu... Not the best period to have it. Can't start the first belgian races this weekend #sad," he tweeted earlier today.

To make things worse for the Belgian team, their captain for Sunday's Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, André Greipel, is also uncertain for his first big goal. The German is suffering from a sore throat and may not be able to start in Kuurne.