After Tirreno-Adriatico Baden Cooke (Vacansoleil) was off his bike for eight days, due to a virus. He was eager to get back to racing in the Dwars Doors Vlaanderen, which he won in 2002 but hasn't been able to race since.
Cooke had already some good results this year, finishing second in stage one of the Tour Down Under and third in the final stage of Tirreno.
