On Wednesday Team QuickStep's spring classics roster performed reconnaissance on the route of the 2011 Omloop Het Nieuwsbald - the opening race of the Belgian cycling calendar.

The team's riders rode for about 5 hours in the cold and windy climate typical for Februarian Europe. Towards the end of the training session it even started to rain.

"We had a good workout," Team QuickStep coach Tom Steels commented and continued "The guys were motivated and are in shape. The course has changed and in my opinion it's a bit more challenging than previous editions. The last 60 kilometers that decide the race will be hard, and the route is really nervous. It's definitely going to be a good race."

After the training session and route scouting the team's technical staff selected the two team rosters that will represent the team in the two races taking place in the coming weekend - the 2011 Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and the 2011 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

"We'll be lining up at the starting line with two competitive formations," Team QuickStep sports director Wilfried Peeters told Roadcycling.com/Roadcycling.mobi and added "The athletes with more experience like Boonen, Chavanel, Maes and Steegmans will be riding in both races. Next to them they'll have riders suited for the different types of routes [offered by the two races]."

"On Saturday there will be riders more adapted to an intense course, while on Sunday we're lining up a group with faster riders for the sprints. At Kuurne one of our best young riders, Guillaume Van Keirsbulck will also be riding. It will be an important experience for him," Peeters concluded.

Team Quick Step roster for 2011 Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne: Gerald Ciolek (Ger), Tom Boonen (Bel), Sylvain Chavanel (Fra), Andreas Stauff (Ger), Gert Steegmans (Bel), Marco Bandiera (Ita), Nikolas Maes (Bel), Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel).

Team QuickStep roster for 2011 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Tom Boonen (Bel), Sylvain Chavanel (Fra), Kevin De Weert (Bel), Dries Devenyns (Bel), Nikolas Maes (Bel), Gert Steegmans (Bel), Niki Terpstra (Hol), Kevin Van Impe (Bel).