Belgians gear up for Het Volk

With the Belgian season-starter Omloop Het Volk only a few days away, the Belgian Quick-Step pros are fine-tuning their form. Former world champ and Classics favourite Tom Boonen currently still enjoys the mild temperatures of his new home in Monaco, where he was reported to train four to five hours a day with teammate Kevin Van Impe. Quick Step-Innergetic will make known its selection for the week-end races of Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne and Het Volk tomorrow, but the names of Boonen, Baguet, Cretskens, Hulsmans, Steegmans, De Jongh, Rosseler, Van Petegem, Weylandt, Tankink and Van Impe are rumoured to be on the list.

Three-times winner Peter Van Petegem is going for a Het Volk record this year. The new Quick-Step rider has recovered from an intestinal flu that caused him to drop out of the Volta ao Algarve and is looking forward to the race on Saturday, which he has won in 1997, 1998 and 2002.

"I did not lose much form. Everyone will be ready on Saturday. Quick-Step will be going for the win," he said, adding that it did not matter whether it will be himself or a teammate that snatches the prestigious victory. "That I could become the record holder with a victory doesn't play a role," he noted. "Monday all the newspapers will be full of it. The one who wins is a hero. The one who loses, is finished."

Van Petegem transferred to Quick-Step this year after seven years at Davitamon-Lotto. Asked if he was looking for revenge, he answered, "I have already taken revenge by going to Lefevere's team. I am now in a stronger team."