22-Feb-2012: The training races in sunny places like Australia, Oman and Qatar are over. The season is about to begin in earnest. For a team like Omega Pharma - Quick Step all the wins they have tallied so far amount to nothing without success in their backyard, the classics. The two races that typically signify the beginning of the true season, complete with cobblestones, will be held this weekend -Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. Success here can catapult a team into Flanders and Roubaix with the momentum necessary for victory. Omega Pharma - Quick Step has just announced their rosters for the two races, rosters designed to win.

"It will be an important weekend for our team, as always," said Wilfried Peeters who will guide the riders from the team car. "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, seen 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."

On Sunday, part of the team will also be taking part to the Boucles du Sud-Ardèche in France.

“After the Trofeo Laigueglia, we stopped in the south of France with the team and organized a brief stage while waiting to compete on Sunday," Bramati said. "The team is motivated and training sessions are progressing according to our program that alternates road bicycle sessions to time-trial bicycle sessions. Our objective is to be amongst the protagonists of the race."

2-25 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)

Sports Director Wilfried Peeters (BEL)
Length 200.3 km

2-26 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)
Length 195.0 km