Deceuninck-QuickStep's Yves Lampaert said the coronavirus-plagued 2020 season may be a forgotten one. But the former Belgian road race champion, who finished second behind Trek-Segafredo's Yasper Steiven in February's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, will further promote himself this year as his contract with the WorldTour team led by Patrick Lefebvre will end He is looking forward to the opportunity to showcase himself further.

"Let's hope that my first goal is to be at the Belgian championships (in June)," Lampaert told Sporza.be on Tuesday.

"I also like Patrick's suggestion that the Ardennes Classics be held before the World Championships (in Switzerland in September) and the Flanders Classics afterwards.

"That's a good compromise. It would be a bit much to extend the season until November, and it would also interfere with our preparations for the 2021 season."

On Sunday, April 12, Lampert would have been ready to improve on his third place in last year's Paris-Roubaix, but the postponement of the "Hell of the North" meant that he had to save his strength for when the race resumes, helping his parents on the farm.

"Cycling takes a lot of time and energy, ."

says Lampert. Seeding and planting are in full swing, and leeks have to be harvested. [Fortunately, I still enjoy biking. It's also very nice to spend an afternoon doing something other than lying in an armchair."

The lack of racing combined with the sudden approach that his contract with Deceuninck-QuickStep ends at the end of the season may have hit the other riders harder.

"But I'm not worried," said one rider. I think I deserve my place in the team and in the pro peloton."

"It would normally be one of the better contracts, but we'll have to wait and see what direction cycling sponsorship takes," he admitted.

"I was fortunate to be on the podium at Omloop, but it could be a season to forget."