Wednesday’s La Flèche Brabançonne is the first real test for the Team LottoNL-Jumbo riders who want to perform during the Ardennes Classics over the upcoming weeks. Sports Director Merijn Zeeman wants his riders to be attentive in Belgian Brabant.

“The course of La Flèche Brabançonne is never flat and with all the twisting and turning the race is quite explosive,” Zeeman continued.

“We have to be really attentive and we have to do it as a team. Teamwork is what we’re going to need in the real Ardennes classics.”

 No real leader

Team LottoNL-Jumbo will start the race without a real leader. Zeeman expects a good performance by Bert-Jan Lindeman, Paul Martens and Wilco Kelderman though. The latter will be the card to play by the team in hilly classics.

Paul Martens

Martens, who finished fourth in the 2010 La Flèche Brabançonne, was ill last week. The German hopes to appear fully healthy at the start on Wednesday.

“I was really sick. I could only lie on the couch and even that was very hard. I’m a little better now and I’ve been able to train properly on Tuesday, but I mustn’t make the mistake of trying to repair the damage too fast.”

Main goal

The Ardennes Classics are the first main goal of the year for Martens. “Before I got sick, my condition was as expected. I will find out what it costs me on Wednesday. My ambition goes beyond finishing, but I know I cannot expect too much too soon.”

Team line-up:

Brian Bulgac, Moreno Hofland, Wilco Kelderman, Bert-Jan Lindeman, Nick van der Lijke, Paul Martens, Mike Teunissen & Kevin De Weert.

Sports Director:

Merijn Zeeman.