Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNL-Jumbo)
Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNL-Jumbo)
A perennial contender since winning the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in 2012, Sep Vanmarcke did not finish lower than fifth in any of the cobbled WorldTour classics last year.
He has continued such form this time out too, finishing fifth at the Omloop het Nieuwsblad and fourth at Strade Bianche already this year.
The 26-year-old Dutchman now needs to step it up another level if he is to be considered a serious Classics hopeful after so many near-misses.
LottoNL-Jumbo are yet to record a victory since their new headline sponsors took over from Belkin in the winter – FDJ are the only other WorldTour team to have drawn a blank so far this season – so the pressure for a rider like Vanmarcke to break that duck is growing too.
He is capable, but he will not be getting any free rides with his prowess well known despite his lack of victories.
Nevertheless, it would be foolish to write Vanmarcke off when it comes to E3 Harelbeke or any of the cobbled Classics this spring.