Soudal Quick-Step exploring the Flemish Ardennes

The Omloop is the traditional opener of the Belgian cycling season.

Asgreen, Lampaert and ex-winner Davide Ballerini are among the spearheads of the selection. Senechal, Pedersen and Tim Declercq are also part of this. Fabio Jakobsen will only start in Kuurne.

Lampaert only raced in San Juan this year, but hopes to be ready for the opening weekend. He drives both the circuit and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. “We are still with a good core. You are written off quickly, but that doesn’t matter. It is up to us to prove that we can still do it, and I think we are capable of doing that. We don’t have those big names like Van Aert or van der Poel, but it’s not to be underestimated with a Ballerini or something. If you go to the finish with that, it’s also quite fast. I think we can do all fronts have a pawn to move with.”

In 2020 Lampaert was second to Jasper Stuyven, now he certainly wants to do better than his 72nd place last year. “I set my sights on every classic. I hope to have good legs from Saturday and especially to be able to drive from the final. I know I’m not at 100 percent yet, but it would be great if I were at 98 .”