Boonen leading Quick Step through weekend in Belgium

A resurgent Tom Boonen will be leading Omega Pharma-Quick Step through this weekend’s spring classics openers at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, the two races that traditionally open the cycling season in Belgium.

Boonen has already racked up four wins through the early going of 2012 and hopes to be back in winning form for the northern classics, still more than a month away.

The team will bring its A-team for the Omloop, with Boonen being joined by Gerard Ciolek, Gert Steegmans and Sylvain Chavanel.

“It will be an important weekend for our team, as always,” said sport director Wilfried Peeters. “The good state of form of many athletes in our team allowed us to make some technical choices based on the different routes we will be riding on. On Saturday, we will have cyclists that are more comfortable with cobblestone slopes, while on Sunday we will have more sprinters, seeing as there may well be a sprint to end the race.

“Boonen, Ciolek, Steegmans and Velits will compete in both races. There may also be changes in Sunday’s team, based on Saturday’s results. Terpstra won’t take part to the Omloop. Niki came back sick from Algarve, with fever. He’s doing better now but we don’t want to risk, considering the low amount of training he has been able to go through in the past few days. Normally he will be able to take the start in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.”

Omega Pharma-Quick Step for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (BEL) 1.HC

Riders:
Tom Boonen (BEL)
Sylvain Chavanel (FRA)
Gerald Ciolek (GER)
Dries Devenyns (BEL)
Gert Steegmans (BEL)
Matteo Trentin (ITA)
Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL)
Martin Velits (SVK)

Omega Pharma-Quick Step for Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne (BEL) 1.1

Riders:
Tom Boonen (BEL)
Gerald Ciolek (GER)
Andrew Fenn (GBR)
Nikolas Maes (BEL)
Gert Steegmans (BEL)
Niki Terpstra (NED)
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (BEL)
Martin Velits (SVK)

Sports Director
Tom Steels (BEL)
Rik van Slycke (BEL)