Sep Vanmarcke of Belin Pro Cycling is just one of many cyclists who approve of the new-look Tour of Flanders:"I've ridden it three times already but that's normal as I live so close by. I like the new parcours though; it's more like the old Flanders. It should be a more open race and while it will not be exactly the same it will have more cobbled climbs in the final and it should be a better race," Vanmarcke told Cyclingnews during the team's training camp in Spain.

Vanmarcke will be Belkin’s leader in the Classics and will target the same races as last year, saying “Omloop is important but Gent-Wevelgem, Flanders and Roubaix are again the top races"

He suffered a bad fall in Tirenno-Adriatico and took a while to recover but his 2nd place behind Cancellara in the Roubaix Velodrome showed his class "A big part of me is disappointed because you don't get so many chances to be that close," he said, "but I knew already I could do a ride like that. In the future I know I can go there and one day win that race."

He acknowledges he made mistakes in the sprint but uses all the criticism he received from it as motivation for 2014. This year his preparation will be aided by the lack of off the bike distractions. This time last year, Rabobank left the sport and for a while, the team’s future looked uncertain. However, they found sponsorship and continued on in 2013 to a successful season.

"No one knew what would happen or how things would develop in the future. Now everyone is relaxed and really focused on the racing and the new goals. That's certainly a good step. Now I've have more confidence. I'm a year older and a year stronger. The team I think has more confidence in me and I've proven to the team that I can do it. I think I can make another step again. I'm not afraid and I should be able to get closer to the top."

After the Classics, Vanmarcke hopes to ride the Tour de France. He rode this year’s edition as a domestique but with the addition of the cobbles during stage 5, there is an extra incentive for him.

"Hopefully I'm good enough and I can do the Tour de France again.  I'd like to win a stage in the Tour during my career if there’s a chance. I won't win in sprints or mountains but I need to have the stages in between or a stage with some cobbles."