Ian Stannard will not defend his Omloop Het Nieuwsblad title after being left out of Team Sky's squad for Saturday's race.
The Brit, who's won the early season Classic for the past two years, is hoping to save himself for Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders rather than peak too soon into the season, as happened last season.
Luke Rowe is Team Sky's best bet for victory in Het Nieuwsblad, while Elia Viviani will lead the team in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne the following day.
The British team have opted to put out the same line-up for both races this weekend, but Danny van Poppel's debut for Sky has had to be put on ice because of a knee injury.
Andy Fenn and Alex Peters join Rowe as the only Brits in the eight-man squad, with three Italians also present in the shape of Gianni Moscon, Salvatore Puccio and Viviani.
Michael Golas, who joined Sky from Etixx-Quick Step over the winter is also included and Christian Knees rounds out the weekend's team.
Van Poppel will have to wait to make his first appearance in Sky's black and blue jersey, and says the delay is frustrating.
"I could hardly ride because of the pain," he told NU.nl. "When I went out with the team, I was in the shower after ten minutes. It's very tricky, but fortunately I have the right people around me to stay positive."
Team Sky squad for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
Luke Rowe, Elia Viviani, Salvatore Puccio, Gianni Moscon, Andy Fenn, Alex Peters, Michal Golas, Christian Knees.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
'Don't use the bike': OPEN recalls all of its Campagnolo Ekar-equipped bikes and framesets
In Cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, OPEN Cycle has sent out a recall for all its Campagnolo Ekar-equipped gravel and road bikes.
-
Tour of Flanders 2023: Five men and five women to watch on Sunday
Taking a closer look at the favourites ahead of this year's Ronde van Vlaanderen
-
Egan Bernal has nose operation to help 'air passage' ahead of 2023
Procedure not thought to be connected to the life-threatening crash which affected Colombian last year
-
Tweets of the week: Ineos Grenadiers' three wise men, team jersey déjà vu and World Cup celebrations by bike
Here's our social media round-up, featuring a cycling all-star nativity
-
Ineos Grenadiers sign their first female rider
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot reported to be joining new Ineos mountain bike team, alongside Tom Pidcock
-
Remco Evenepoel transfer to Ineos Grenadiers is ‘too stupid for words’ says Patrick Lefevere
Lefevere revealed he has been laughing at speculation around the new world champion
-
Ineos Grenadiers sign unknown 18-year-old Michael Leonard
Canadian is the latest young rider to join the British squad
-
Ineos Grenadiers sign 18 year-old time trial and track talent Josh Tarling
The 18-year-old is a two-time Welsh national track champion, and finished second in the 2021 junior worlds time trial
-
Ineos set to launch new Kenyan cycling academy with Eliud Kipchoge - the first man to run a marathon under two hours
The multinational chemicals company will work in partnership with Ineos Grenadiers and Eliud Kipchoge
-
Have you heard the one about why Australian track riders dye their hair blonde? Ineos Grenadiers's Luke Plapp reveals all as he seeks world track and road glory
The Ineos Grenadiers youngster is expected to be one of the peloton's strongest time triallists in the ensuing seasons
