Even though Stijn Vandenbergh of Omega Pharma-Quick Step has kicked off the season for cobbled races in a respectable style as he finished runner up in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and then was handed an unexpected opportunity to play his own card in spring majors after Tom Boonen crashed out of Ronde van Vlaandered, this year it would be business as usual as he is expected to support his Belgian captain.

“Tom is in a good shape and the team is stronger that ever,” Vandenbergh claims.

Last spring, the one to forget for Boonen, Vandenbergh rather unintentionally emerged out of the shadow of his more renowned countryman, as the 29-year old Belgian finished runner up in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, tenth in the Gent-Wavelgem, fourteenth in Ronde van Vlaandered and finally twentieth in Paris-Roubaix.

This year Vandenbergh is again expected to ride in the support of Boonen and he followed the same racing schedule as the Omega Pharma-Quick Step leader , participating together in Tour de San Luis, Tour of Qatar and Tour of Oman.

“Tom is very motivated and focused,” Vandenbergh confirmed.

As his most reliable domestique and room-mate Vandenbergh is able to share more detailed information on Boonen’s wellbeing.

“He goes to bed early and watches his diet. In Qatar and Oman there were dessert-buffets what was very difficult to resist. Tom refused to be seduced. This is a proof of a strong character. He is driven by the desire to do well in the races.”

Vandenbergh himself also managed to ride himself into a good disposition during their stints in the Persian Gulf.

“In Argentina it wasn’t super, but in Qatar I felt stronger and in Oman I rode ahead of Tom and Uran.”