Stijn Devolder (Vacansoleil-DCM) dreams of victory in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad this year.

The two-time Tour of Flanders winner recently checked out the parcours of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad with teammate Gorik Gardeyn and sports director Hilaire Van der Scheuren.

This year, former cyclist Peter Van Petegem has redesign the course, and Devolder says he expects it to be tougher this year.

"This course is not comparable with last year's edition. Route designer Peter Van Petegem has made good use of his experience. The course has become much more selective," Devolder told Het Nieuwsblad. "The hills are divided neatly and there will be ongoing opportunities for action."

Devolder has never won the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad before, but hopes to win it this year. Earlier, he has focused on the Tour of Flanders. But this year, it seems he is more interested in winning the Omloop race.

"In the past the race would begin on the wall [the Molenberg] then everything collapsed like a pudding. Then it was a wait until the strongest guys stuck their heads out in the cobbled areas deep in the finale," he said. "Now I expect that the race will really explode the third and last time through the [new] cobblestone sector at Haaghoek. Then you'll immediately hit the Leberg, Molenberg and then again the cobblestones of the Lipenhovestraat.

"The finale is the same. A lot will depend on the wind. Headwind or tailwind makes a big difference. However, it is always a case of attrition. The new route is essentially a 200km Tour of Flanders."

Devolder races the Grand Prix d'Ouverture La Marseillaise today, but will soon travel to Spain.

"In February I'm only one day in the country [Belgium]. I ride the Marseillaise and then the following Sunday Etoile de Bessèges. Then I pull over to Spain for the Ruta del Sol to ride the ultimate run-up to Omloop. I’m look forward to it, I had a good winter. I would like to finally make something of the opening classic. "