Flanders winner to lead Quick Step in Gent-Wevelgem

Stijn Devolder (Quick Step)

Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) (Image credit: AFP)

Ronde Van Vlaanderen winner Stijn Devolder will lead the Quick Step team at Gent-Wevelgem tomorrow. The Belgian ProTour outfit will field a squad of heavy-hitting riders, including Steven De Jongh who has been cleared of any fractures after falling in last weekend's Spring Classic.

"For about 30 seconds after falling I couldn’t feel my legs," De Jongh said, after being cleared by X-rays. "Then thankfully the feeling started to come back in them. I was really worried for a moment and I am so happy to be able to take part in the race on Wednesday."

Devolder enjoyed a celebration of his victory on Sunday evening, put on by a group of the Belgian's fans. "My fans organised a special party for me in my hometown of Sint Lodewijk Deerlijk," said Devolder. "I got back to my house at about 11 PM but I couldn’t sleep as I was so pleased and on a high. I could feel the adrenalin running through me, actually, if I think about my win a huge smile comes across my face.

"I’ll be taking part in the Gent-Wevelgem on Wednesday," he added. "This will be an important step towards the Paris-Roubaix. It really would be fantastic if our team managed to gain two wins in a row. The team is going really well and Boonen has proved to be in brilliant form."

Sébastien Rosseler is still having problems with his right knee, as a result he will not be taking part in the Gent-Wevelgem. Alessandro Proni is in a similar position as he continues to have problems with his left Achilles’ tendon.

Quick Step for Gent-Wevelgem: Tom Boonen, Wilfried Cretskens, Stijn Devolder, Steven De Jongh, Kevin Hulsmans, Gert Steegmans, Matteo Tosatto and Wouter Weylandt.

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