Sep Vanmarcke counts the E3-Harelbeke as one of his most important races this year. A strong Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM, including Maarten Wynants, will support the Belgian on March 28th. It comes ahead of other crucial one-day races like the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.

“Sep is a real contender. I can go a long way too and If I can help him, I will do that,” Wynants said. “This is the most important time of the year for me. This is why I became a cyclist. I really want to show myself. I’m in a very good condition. After the opening weekend last month, I took things easy. Paris-Nice was a good and hard race in nice conditions, and I’m ready. I did everything I could to be at my best.”

Wynants explored the course for Friday’s race and thinks that some strong riders will hold off a larger group. “Hopefully Sep is in the first. I expect to at least be in that second group and to try to upset the chase.”

Feeling
Sports Director Jan Boven drove alongside as Wynants as the team reconnoitred the route. “After Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico, the guys needed to get used to the Belgian roads again. Now that the weather in Europe is so good, the change wasn’t very big, but it’s good for them to familiarise themselves with their new equipment again. In Belgium, we ride on the Bianchi Infinito CV instead of the Oltre XR2. We also use different tyres. It’s nice for them to get the feeling of those materials again.”

TEAM Belkin line-up in E3-Harelbeke:
Jetse Bol, Jos van Emden, Tom Leezer, Bram Tankink, Maarten Tjallingii, Sep Vanmarcke, Robert Wagner and Maarten Wynants.