E3-Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem take place over the coming days and Cannondale-Drapac are sending a very strong roster in support of team leader Sep Vanmarcke.
Vanmarcke finished in third place at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (1.UWT) in February, but unfortunately crashed at Strade Bianche earlier in the month. However, he feels his recovery is going well.
“I’m fine,” he says of his injuries. “The ribs are not yet totally okay, but since this weekend I felt they’re improving. Doctors say I won’t damage it more with racing, so that’s good to know. I want to focus on the race, not on the pain.”
He feels that both races suit him, having finished in second place at Gent-Wevelgem in 2010 and 2016 and fifth at E3 Harelbeke in 2015.
“Both in E3 and Gent-Wevelgem I’ve had several top five results, so they suit me well,” said Vanmarcke. “But both are different races. E3 has more hills. Gent Wevelgem has the wind playing a key role. But both races I like. In both there is a very high level because the top of the classics riders are at the start with their best form. In both races it’s really important to have good position at the right moments. There are many important sections, so there are many fights for position.”
“After the opening weekend, we had a good view on everything and everybody, so we could work from there. We are developing how to make it perfect. I’m sure we will do well as a group here. Everybody has a good condition and really wants to do his work well.”
Andreas Klier will be one of the Directeur Sportifs for the team and the German who won Gent–Wevelgem in 2003 and finished second at E3 Harelbeke in 2004 explains what makes the races special.
“First of all, is it the weather which has made Gent-Wevelgem very special over the last few years,” said Klier. “Because of the fact that there is a very exposed area where the race takes place, very often the first decision will happen before you actually enter the key sections around the Kemmelberg. About E3, I can say that over the last years that race has been a “small brother” of the Ronde and the results of that race show that I am right. If you are able to be top three there, then you are absolutely also competitive for the upcoming races.”
“We will always support Sep 100 percent from the very first race until the last northern classic. Out of that sort of plan, very often you create moment where you can play another card. If this would be the case and we have a rider who could play a key role in the deep final of a race without having any negative influence on Sep’s mission, then of course we will do that.”
Cannondale-Drapac for E3-Harelbeke
Alberto Bettiol (ITL)
Kristijan Koren (SVN)
Sebastian Langeveld (NLD)
Ryan Mullen (IRL)
Tom Scully (NZL)
Tom Van Asbroeck (BEL)
Dylan Van Baarle (NED)
Sep Vanmarcke (BEL)
Cannondale-Drapac for Gent-Wevelgem
Kristijan Koren (SVN)
Sebastian Langeveld (NLD)
Ryan Mullen (IRL)
Tom Scully (NZL)
Tom Van Asbroeck (BEL)
Dylan Van Baarle (NLD)
Sep Vanmarcke (BEL)
Wouter Wippert (NLD)
