Former winners and specialists in the hilly Classics dominate the startline, with 2013 winner Roman Kreuziger (Tinkoff-Saxo) among the most obvious others to watch.

Off-the-bike politics have dominated the agenda at the Russian-owned team, but Kreuziger can put a disappointing start to the season for the team behind them.

But the Czech rider may also find himself distracted by off-the-bike headlines with the CAS hearing into his Biological Passport having been set this week, to take place in June.

Enrico Gasparotto (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) is another recent winner due for the startline, but his win in 2012 came atop the Cauberg.

Nevertheless, he has finished inside the top ten in each of the last two editions and will likely be able to count on Bjorn Leukemans and Marco Marcato for support.

It is not  just the recent winners to keep an eye on either – Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprandi Polkowice), who won the treble in 2004, was fifth at De Brabantse Pijl and the Italian veteran, 43, was also fifth at the Coppi e Bartali last month.

Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha), meanwhile, races on the back of his Tour of the Basque Country triumph but he usually peaks later in Ardennes Week for Liege-Bastogne-Liege – as does Daniel Martin (Cannondale-Garmin).

If Rodriguez does not challenge on the Cauberg, it may be Daniel Moreno, La Fleche Wallonne winner in 2013, who flies the Katusha flag instead.