Gerolsteiner's plans in Belgium

Team Gerolsteiner has crossed the border from Germany to Belgium to take on the spring season this weekend. After starting the "Belgian Weeks" on Wednesday, the sparkling water troupe is ready to take on the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen (GP Harelbeke) on Saturday and De Brabantse Pijl on Sunday.

"We want to build up momentum for the Belgian ProTour races which are still to come," said DS Christian Henn, who is looking forward to the Ronde Van Vlaanderen and Gent-Wevelgem. "This is similar to being able to check out the race course under racing conditions, and if someone wants to do something in the big races, then they have to know every detail."

Added Henn, "We want to ride offensively in both these races and if possible, play a role in the finale. But the important thing is to learn the problem spots for the ProTour races."

Riders for E3 Prijs Vlaanderen/GP Harelbeke and De Brabantse Pijl: Thomas Fothen, Frank Hoj, David Kopp, Sven Krauss, Sebastian Lang, Stefan Schumacher, Peter Wrolich and Markus Zberg (only for Harelbeke).

Courtesy Susan Westemeyer