The Team LottoNL-Jumbo-riders were unable to play a big role in the Ronde van Vlaanderen. Leader Sep Vanmarcke was absent when the biggest favourites fired. He tried to repair the damage, but his effort did not pay off. Alexander Kristoff of team Katusha won, Vanmarcke placed 53rd.

“Everything went quit well until the Taaienberg,” Sports Director Nico Verhoeven said. “It was a big surprise for us to see that Sep Vanmarcke wasn’t in the front after the Taaienberg. He tried to bridge the gap to the leading group, but didn’t make it to the end, unfortunately.”

“I had a little dip at the Taaienberg and tried to return afterwards,” Vanmarcke explained. He almost reached the front after his effort on the Kruisberg. His chase ended when the road went uphill again, however. “If they had hesitated a little bit more, I probably would have been able to return. Maarten Wynants did everything to make my chase a successful one. I tried to complete our performance, but it wasn’t enough. The gap was not more than 30 metres at one moment.

“That’s cycling. I want to forget this as soon as possible and look forward to Paris-Roubaix.”