Niki Terpstra enjoyed a perfect start to 2014 season with a victory in the opening stage of the Tour of Qatar followed by winning its general classification and managed to keep the momentum ever since with no less than stunning performances in the cobbled classics. Even though the reportedly unfashionable Driedaagse De Panne is treated by most riders as a preparation race for the coming Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix, the in-form Dutchman dares to admit that his intentions are absolutely serious as he aims to win the whole three-day event after numerous top-five results scored last seasons.

Considering his current disposition and good time trial, Terpstra entered the three-day cobbled event as the biggest favorite for overall victory and quickly confirmed such predictions, finishing Driedaagse De Panne first stage in the eleven-riders front group and gaining some valuable seconds on his key rivals.

The 29-year old Dutchman continued riding in the same aggressive fashion, which provided him with victories in the Tour of Qatar, Dwars door Vlaanderen and with the runner-up spot in E3 Harelbeke this season, in yesterday’s longest stage of the mid week event. Terpstra’s attack from the leading group didn’t prove successful this time around and he was reeled in by the leading group together with his companions Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) and Oscar Gatto (Cannondale) 3 kilometers from the finish line. However, collecting bonus seconds in intermediate sprints let the Dwars door Vlaanderen champion to gain the further advantage over strongest time trialists remaining in competition.

Finding himself in a pole position to finally take the spoils in the Belgian stage race after several near misses experienced last seasons, Terpstra is not afraid to admit that only an overall victory would satisfy his ambitions regarding Driedaagse De Panne.

“I’ve been close a few times here, and I really want to win,” Terpstra said after Tuesday’s stage. “Everyone is asking me if I will pull out early to prepare for Sunday, but I want to win this race once and for all.”

Aware of the splendid disposition of the 29-year old Dutchman, the Omega Pharma-Quick Step manager Patrick Lefevere confirmed that Terpstra would receive team’s full support in his quest for the victory in Driedaagse De Panne.

Speaking after the first day of competition came to its conclusion, Lefevere expected next two stages to be less nervous as the general classification should be sorted out in the closing time trial. However, the history proved very different to his expectations in the courtesy of the Omega Pharma-Quick Step duo of Terpstra and Gert Steegmans, wreaking havoc in the reduced peloton by dictating furious pace on the Kemmelberg.

“We will ride to support Niki, because he should have good chances to win,” said Omega Pharma team boss Patrick Lefevere. “Today was the most difficult stage of the week, so the next two days are better for the sprinters. And then it all comes down to the time trial.”

Interestingly, after collecting bonuses in intermediate sprints, Steegmans was the Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider who rode himself into the leaders jersey following the second stage and even more interestingly, the 33-year old Belgian openly emphasized his ambitions to fight with his team-mate for an overall victory in the event.

A status of the Driedaagse De Panne has deteriorated over the last couple of years and the race is currently skipped by most of Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix favorites, while those who decide to participate usually enter the competition without serious overall ambitions and pull out of it before the ultimate day. Terpstra, however, presents an entirely different approach and claims that he never considered treating it exclusively as a build-up an option.

“If I wanted to use this race to train, I would have stayed home, because you can train better at home, and do not risk a crash,” Terpstra told VeloNews. “I’ve been close several times to winning here, but I’ve always missed out. I hope to get it right, because I know my form is good.”

“I took the weekend off to recover for this week, but I am not the friendliest guy around the house at the moment,” Terpstra joked. “My son asked me to kick the soccer ball around with him, and I had to say no, because daddy is really focusing on the upcoming races.”

Terpstra’s spectacular showings in Flemish classics this season combined with hugely discussed Tom Boonen’s private matters and thumb injury have created an interesting situation within the Belgian team and obviously provoked some questions about the Omega Pharma-Quick Step’s leadership for Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix.

Even though Terpstra managed to come up with a witty answer, not pointing out to Tom Boonen as a sole leader may as well suggest that the 29-year old Dutchman will be reluctant to give up on his own ambitions in the most important races of the cobbled season.

“That is a big thing among the Belgian journalists,” Terpstra said. “There are always questions over team leadership, but the race will decide everything. The race puts everyone in their place.”