Sep Vanmarcke is confidently looking forward to the Tour of Flanders this Sunday in Belgium after his second place in Gent-Wevelgem. The Belgian will lead Team LottoNL-Jumbo in the race of his dreams and be supported by a mix of experience hands and talented youngsters.

“Sep Vanmarcke is our front man and the other seven riders need to help him,” Sports Director Nico Verhoeven said. “Some of them have to make sure that they make it into the final of the race so that they can support him as long as possible.”

The final probably starts near the same point as last year because “the final 60 kilometres will be the same. From the second time up the Oude Kwaremont climb, the final starts. The race is tough before that point, as well, but no one will go full gas in that part of the race. You have to be focussed in those kilometres, though, because you can easily lose the race there.”

Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s front man agrees that the Oude Kwaremont will be the first important point in the race.

“After that point, we will ride a loop with all the famous climbs,” Vanmarcke added. “That’s very hard and you need to be in position all the time.”

After Gent-Wevelgem, the Belgian’s status chanced a bit.

“Suddenly, I’m one of the big favourites. I wasn’t before this weekend, but it doesn’t change anything in my mind. I’ve been working for these weeks and I showed last weekend that I’m good.”

Vanmarcke will be supported by experienced cyclists Maarten Wynants, Maarten Tjallingii, Robert Wagner, Tom Van Asbroeck and Bram Tankink, and Flanders rookies Mike Teunissen and Timo Roosen.

“Those guys proved to be strong,” Verhoeven said. “They will participate in this race for the first time so they don’t know what is waiting for them. That makes it a big challenge, but I have the feeling that the whole team is ready for it.”

Line-up:

Sep Vanmarcke, Maarten Wynants, Maarten Tjallingii, Bram Tankink, Timo Roosen, Mike Teunissen, Robert Wagner and Tom van Asbroeck.