Vanmarcke gives a lump sum for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

After Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal), who is struggling with stomach and intestinal complaints, he is the second big name to drop out in the last resort. “After suffering from a sore throat last night and not feeling 100 percent this morning, Sep, together with the medical staff, decided that it is better to focus on recovery so as not to mortgage future games,” reports Vanmarcke’s team. 33-year-old Vanmarcke won the Omloop exactly ten years ago by beating Tom Boonen and Spaniard Juan Antonio Flecha in the sprint. After that, he took the podium three more times. He finished third in 2017, 2018 and last year (behind the Italian Davide Ballerini and the Briton Jake Stewart).