Having been under fire from high-profile quarters in its own country, the team is seeking to find form heading into the northern Classics, which begin with the Tour of Flanders this weekend.
In the first stage of De Panne, Ronde team leaders Greg Van Avermaet, Leif Hoste and Philippe Gilbert were all in the first group that finished behind the escape duo, plus Roy Sentjens. Van Avermaet was quite happy with the development. "We made the race today; that was the first time that I see that and I think this is a change for us."
Van Avermaet has 'tasted blood' and is excited at the prospects for next week's big races. "Nobody factors us in their Flanders calculations but hopefully it will be good now," he said. "With Flanders and Paris-Roubaix coming up this is very important for us."
He admitted that Cadel Evans' victory last weekend in the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali, the team's first in 2009, played a vital role in arresting the squad's form deficiency. "That was very good for us. It's important to take that victory – it helps with the motivation. Maybe we can take a stage here in De Panne, which would also be important."
The promising Belgian sprinter is now itching for Sunday, where he believes the weather will be integral to the team's chances of success. "Wednesday [in Dwars door Vlaanderen] it was really cold but now it's warmer and this is better for me. I've seen the forecasts and it should get warmer. That's also better for my legs – I ride really well in this weather."
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Despite struggling somewhat for form, Hoste was also looking better than in previous races after De Panne's first day. "I think it is a step forward for me," he said. "I had to abandon Tirreno and Dwars van Vlaanderen. Saturday [at the E3 Prijs] it was already getting better, although not super. Now we will see Sunday."
Silence-Lotto will have its work cut out for it in De Ronde as Katusha's Filippo Pozzato and the Quick Step squad have been looking sharp of late. Van Avermaet prefers to simply focus on what he can influence, however. "I am very happy with my condition for Sunday and I hope to do well."
