As the commentators on Eurosport said last week “Sep Vanmarcke must have nightmares about Fabian Cancellara”. He beat the Belgian star in Roubaix last year in a sprint and was one of two men to outsprint Vanmarcke last week in Flanders.

“I dream of a similar scenario as 2013, but this time ahead of Cancellara,” Vanmarcke said. “I’ve been good in all the classics so far. I know my form is there.”

Vanmarcke is in sparkling form, with top 5s in Het Nieuwsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, E3, Gent-Wevelgem and Flanders.

Now he wants to cap it all off with victory against Cancellara in the Hell of the North.

“Last year, I was second, this year, I was third at Flanders. I can’t keep fighting for podiums, I need to start fighting for the wins, and I won’t be happy with second,” Vanmarcke told AFP. “Last weekend, I was the only one who could follow Cancellara, and for sure I won’t be in an early attack.”

DS Niko Verhoeven is confident Vanmarcke can put his money where his mouth is.

“Sep has proven he is very strong at the moment,” said Belkin sport director Nico Verhoeven. “In all the races until now, we’ve been in the fight for the win, and that gives us a lot of morale. With Sep’s second place in mind from last year, we’ll aim for the victory.”

Belkin bring a strong line up with Lars Boom one of the teams stars, Maarten Tjallingi, 3rd in 2011 and Maarten Wynants, 10th in 2012. Boom co-leads but his form is still quite unknown.

Vanmarcke is only 25 and is a but young for the toughness of Roubaix but he is proving exceptionally adept so far and wants to win a big race soon rather than later. This is why he is seen as the next Tom Boonen.

“I learned a lot from my race last year. I should have come to a track stand last year on the velodrome to avoid having to lead out the sprint,” Vanmarcke said. “I have more pressure this year, but I also have more confidence. I am ready to race.”