Nick Nuyens of Rabobank has had a lackluster 2009 but is looking forward to a good Spring Classics season. With changed training and new motivation, the Belgian heads into the classics opening weekend with a lot of confidence.
He draws his optimism from a strong winter training campaign. "It must have been a few years since I felt that good," he told the Gazet van Antwerp. "I felt right on target the last few months."
He also changed his attitude towards his workout schedule. "I was often in Spain to do extra training, something I hadn't done before." Nuyens knows that he needs to race offensively this weekend. "Against guys like Boonen, Haussler and Gilbert I have to leave it all on the road. It is up to us to tire them and then hit them hard."
With Sebastian Langeveld back in the mix, Rabobank has indeed a good chance for a nice result this weekend. Langeveld is expected to race only Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne on Sunday, while Nuyens will do both races.
Nuyens knows the roads and the road to victory well. He won the Omloop in 2005, finished fourth in 2007 and second in 2008. Last year was his first year for Rabobank, where he had hoped for better results. A win in the GP de Wallonie in September was the only victory for Nuyens in 2009. He finished 14th in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad one year ago.
His big goal will be the Ronde van Vlaanderen, where he finished second in 2008.
The Rabobank riders for Saturday are Nick Nuyens, Lars Boom, Tom Leezer, Maarten Tjallingii, Rick Flens, Tom Stamsnijder, Bram Tankink, Joost Posthuma