Aike Visbeek: "I don't think it is realistic to say that Biniam will close the gap to Van der Poel and Van Aert"

Intermarché - Wanty are not at the same level as rival teams now during the cobbled classics but they can definitely pull a punch at certain points. The team is backing up Biniam Girmay who is in good form and hopes to still bring in more results throughout the spring.

"Of the men who rode the double E3 plus Gent-Wevelgem, you see that Mathieu and Mads are performing well. But certainly Biniam too," Visbeek told In de Leiderstrui. "I think he had a very good weekend. In E3 it was a shame and sad that we just missed out on that top ten classification. That was certainly the case. The fact that he managed to finish seventh in Gent-Wevelgem is really very good. That gives hope in view of what is to come."

There, the Eritrean was present in some of the main attacks, but ultimately had to slow down towards the end and could only manage 19th. However he bounced back to finish 7th in the more sprinter-friendly Gent - Wevelgem, even if the race was set at a brutal pace all day long. "I don't think it is realistic to say that Biniam will close the gap to Van der Poel and Van Aert. But he has shown in recent races that he belongs in the group behind him," Visbeek believes. 

"With Jasper Stuyven or Tim Wellens, for example. So compete for a top five place. And if all goes well, he can certainly go for the podium one day," he concludes regarding not only these cobbled classics - of which he's already won in Wevelgem - but also possibly the Tour of Flanders.