With four more days before the opening weekend for the Spring Classics season, Quick Step did a reconnaissance ride of parts of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad route. Tom Boonen and Sylvain Chavanel were absent, as they will join the team not until Friday.
The Quick Step team rode 170km on an overcast day. "A reconnaissance like this is always helpful," said sports director Wilfried Peeters to hln.be. "We did the climbs, the cobbles and we checked out the final. Some parts were in really bad condition." The Quick Steppers now know what they can expect. "It is good that the racers were able to memorize certain points, so they can avoid the obstacles."
The top stars were not there. "Tom Boonen and Sylvain Chavanel will join us Friday. Nobody doubts their form."
The team for Saturday consists of Tom Boonen, Stijn Devolder, Kevin De Weert, Kevin Hulsmans, Maarten Wynants, Nikolas Maes, Jurgen Van De Walle and Sylvain Chavanel.