It still remains unclear how Etixx-QuickStep managed to lose last year's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, but Niki Terpstra seeks revenge on Saturday.

Ian Stannard (Team Sky) won't be defending his back-to-back titles, what possible makes things a little bit easier for the Belgian team, but Terpstra doesn't understand such approach to classics season. The former Paris-Roubaix winner knows well enough that most importsnt objectives remain distant, but underlines the importance of the opening weekend.

„I separate these two things,” Terpstra explained NOS.nl. „I want to build a top form for the classics in April, but find time to ride here as well. April is not so far away after all, but the most important thing for me is to take part [in the opening weekend]. I think [Omloop] is a beautiful race.”

Thinking of last year's edition of the race lost in the finale to Stannard, the Dutchman is still bitter.

„Thirty meters from the finish line I still thought I would win,” he recalls. „We haven't played that well [as a team]. The mutual communication wasn't good, but I hope have learnt from our mistakes.”

Terpstra couldn't kick off this season defending his Tour of Qatar title, as the team wasn't invited to participate in the event due to disciplinary reasons, but is satisfied with his preparations towards the spring classics.

„We were lucky to have a good weather in Spain and Portugal, so we could prepare well.”