Luis Leon Sanchez back in action after being sidelined over Puerto links
With the Tour of Belgium due to start tomorrow, Paris-Roubaix runner-up Sep Vanmarcke has made clear that his home race is a major objective for him, although he is thinking more of stage wins rather than the overall.
“I see some chances, especially in the second and fourth stages,” said Vanmarcke. “To score well in the classification will be difficult for me, considering my time trial skills and a very challenging last day.
“It’s not often that I get the chance to race in my homeland outside the preseason. I am looking forward to it.”
The 2012 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad winner has had a solid season thus far, finishing second to Fabian Cancellara in Paris-Roubaix and also netting fifth in the Rund um Koln. He’ll line out with Lars Boom, Santos Tour Down Under winner Tom-Jelte Slagter, Jos van Emden, Moreno Hofland, Luis León Sánchez and Tom Leezer in the five day race.
According to directeur sportif Erik Dekker, Boom should also be a factor. “We don’t have an ordained lead man, but with Lars Boom and Sep Vanmarcke, we certainly have two guys who know their way around the Ardennes.”
He assesses how the others could perform. “Tom-Jelte Slagter will race for the first time since Liége-Bastonge-Liége. He’s feeling good, but the time trial is not to his advantage. I expect a good TT from Jos van Emden. Moreno Holfland will be a good foil for André Greipel in the sprint numbers.”
The race also marks a return to competition for Luis León Sánchez, who was sidelined from the team due to links to Operacion Puerto. He complained about this to the UCI and has been given a green light to race again.
“He will ride for first time this year so it’s difficult to know where he stands,” said Dekker. “That applies to Tom Leezer and Marc Goos as well as they are still on the mend.”