While Tom Boonen sits out the Flemish classics after suffering the AC-joint dislocation in Paris-Nice, Sep Vanmarcke is tipped as the biggest Belgian hope for the upcoming cobbled monuments. In such circumstances, the local media questioned an absence of the 26-year old LottoNL-Jumbo leader in Milano-Sanremo, what was immediately criticized by his coach.

Vanmarcke wasn't the only cobbled specialist who decided to skip the 300-kilometers long unpredictable affair, more suitable for riders combining impressive endurance with high top end speed. His absence met some criticism from the local media, though, as the 26-year old rider is tipped as the one to replace Tom Boonen when the latter decides to hang up his wheels.

„What the hell should Sep be doing at Milano-Sanremo?” Vanmarcke's coach Luc Wante asked while talking with Het Nieuwsblad.

„He wouldn't be a factor in a sprint anyway. The times when you can ride away from the rest on the Poggio are irrevocably gone.”

„If you're Vanmarcke, you should rather stay away. It wouldn't add any value [to your preparations]. Being there, he would only take additional risk. Just look at what happened to Philippe Gilbert last weekend,” he concluded.