The Belkin classics specialist Sep Vanmarcke looks forward to the cobbled season’s opening weekend, as he aims to improve on his results from last spring, partially marred by the crash he suffered in the Tirreno-Adriatico.

Vanmarcke crashed out of the Gent-Wavelgem and recorded rather disappointing performances in E3 Harebleke and Ronde van Vlaanderen, finished respectively 51st and 29th, but bounced back with a real bang in Paris-Roubaix as he came runner-up to Fabian Cancellara.

The 25-year old Begian claims that following an accident in Tirreno-Adriatico he managed to rebuild his disposition no sooner than for Roubaix last year and he wishes to significantly improve on those results this year.

“I want to ride some of spring races better than last season. After my crash in Tirreno-Adriatico I wasn’t good at all and I reached my peak only for Paris-Roubaix. I  finished convincingly second behind Cancellara, but the winner matters. Such resolt is important for any Belgian or Dutch team.”

Vanmarcke seriously targets major cobbled races to be held in April what is underlined by the fact, that 25-year old Belkin rider has only kicked off the 2014 season in Volta ao Algarve. Even though he claims to be satisfied with the way he performed in his first race of the year, he also acknowledges that the whole build up period is ahead of him and thus he doesn’t expect any strong showing in the coming Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

“I’m fine, but not yet in the top disposition. I’m very aware of that. My real goals begin with E3 Harelbeke, Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix this season,” Vanmarcke confirmed his main objectives.

“I just rode the Volta ao Algarve and it went not bad, so I left the race with the peace of mind. The whole team didn’t compete much before, anyway. We did that deliberately to stay away from the spotlight.”

Belgian rider predicts that Omega Pharma-Quick Step will animate the races in the opening weekend and will very likely go away with the goods, but there is enough confidence in the Belkin squad ahead of the competition.

“The pressure if therefore on them. It’s going to be nervous.”

“Also Lotto Belisol and BMC are strong contenders, but we certainly have no fear.”