On Saturday, Wanty-Groupe Gobert hope to be in the mix at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Sports director Hilaire van der Schueren looks to two Italians and Björn Leukemans to deliver the successs. "After the stage win in Besseges, we can go into the opening weekend in a relaxed mood."

"We have got a good start with Roy Jans' win in Etoile de Besseges," Hilaire Van der Schueren told Sporza. "We can be more relaxed goinh into the opening weekend on home soil.

"We have a good Volta ao Algarve behind us, with a strong Björn Leukemans, and that makes me very positive. On Saturday, he will have a protected role in the team."

The Italians Marco Marcato and Mirko Selvaggi will also enjoy freedom. "They are not familiar with the Haaghoek cobbles and that's why it is good to see the course again."

The course recon is scheduled for today. "We will start in Grammont and do the last 100km to the finish in Ghent," the team leader said."