With podium places in E3 Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem, Sep Vanmarcke has emerged as one of the Belgian candidates for the win on Sunday in Flanders. For the rider from LottoNL-Jumbo, this is also a proof that his annual planning was good as he told a press conference after the course recon.

Sep Vanmarcke missed the opening weekend with the Omloop and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, claimingnhe didn’t want to be in shape too early.

"That was a good approach this year," he says to Sporza. "I had been working a long time for these weeks, and knew the conditions would be good. But it is fine if that translates into results."

Vanmarcke was second in Gent-Wevelgem after Sagan. "After the E3 Harelbeke, I hoped to be a little stronger and it was so on Sunday. And the form will not disappear in a week."

So Vanmarcke will be there Sunday. "It is the 100th Ronde and I want to be at my best. The recon was good and I am a contender to win, but there are even bigger favorites."

"You must be very strong to follow Cancellara. And besides him, you still have Sagan, strong Sky boys and Etixx-Quick Step will also be good."