According to the Belgian press, Niki Teprstra won't continue his love-hate relationship with Driedaagse De Panne, preferring to ride Sunday's Gent-Wavelgem as his final preparations towards the most important of the cobbled classics.

Arguably the most consistent of all classics specialists last season, the Etixx-Quick Step rider missed out on an almost certain victory in Driedaagse De Panne general classification when he broke his pedal while rolling down the ramp in the individual time trial. Due to that unfortunate incident, Terpstra finished the stage event fourth overall, which marked his fourth top five result in the same number of appearances in the Belgian event.

While the 30-year old Dutchman - who is expected to share a leadership in the most important cobbled classics with his Etixx-Quick Step team mate Zdenek Stybar – skips Driedaagse De Panne this year, Iljo Keisse is expected to line-up as the number one in the Belgian team's roster.