Balducci satisfied

Gabriele Balducci of Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo is satisfied with his placings in Belgium, including yesterday's fifth spot in Three Days of De Panne stage 2. The Tuscan sprinter finished the day well but was no match for his countryman, Daniele Bennati (Lampre-Fondital).

"From the start of the season I have been there, even if it has been a string of placings," he noted to La Gazzetta dello Sport in Koksijde, after yesterday's stage finish.

The team, an Italian Professional Continental formation, is relying on wild-card entries into cycling's biggest events. Balducci's teammate, Frank Vandenbroucke was the key to enter Sunday's Ronde van Vlaanderen but unfortunately he is not in-form and will be racing in Italy, thus the team has not been invited.

"The problem is that we are not able to do Flanders without Vandenbroucke. I would have liked to."

The 31 year-old will try his luck again today in stage 3, 119 kilometres, finishing in De Panne.