Sepp Vanmarcke believes that EF Education First's 2020 Classic team is one of the strongest teams he has been a part of, with many one-day specialists including Thor Hushovd and Heinrich Haussler, and the 2011 We believe that we are more cohesive than the Slipstream team.

Vanmarcke was only a neo-pro when Garmin and Cervélo merged prior to the 2011 season. However, individual ambition and lack of cohesion were often problems, and the team finally failed to find success until Johan Van Summeren's shocking victory in Paris-Roubaix.

The 2020 edition of Slipstream Sports has proven talent, with Tour de Flanders winner Albert Bettiol, but Vanmarcke and Sebastian Langefeldt form part of a strong core. The team has also been strengthened by the acquisition of the experienced Jens Keukerer from Lot Soudal.

"Theoretically, in 2011, we had a big-name player, which was incredible, but it didn't work out, except for Van Summeren's win in Roubaix," Vanmarcke told Cycling News at EF Education First's December training camp.

"Except for Roubaix, it was a bad classic season. Hushovd, Farrar, Ostler, and Hammond were big names. But now we have a great team with Sebastian, Albert, Jens, and me."[9

Vanmarcke believes that the core of the 2020 Classics team will prioritize collective ambition over individualism, and that player depth will be a key feature in the first part of the new campaign.

"Theoretically, there are four riders in the finals, armed for that race. We can go into the finale with our cards ready, as many teams are trying to do. I think this will bring more unity among the riders, we had a lot of big names in 2011 and they all wanted something for themselves. With this team, we can work well together. It will be a really strong team."

On a personal level, Vanmarcke still has ambitions of winning the Monument. He has come close several times in his career, and his 2019 campaign was a neat microcosm of his time in the sport. He came into the Classic in great form, but a crash at E3 Harelbeke threatened to ruin his spring.

Then, despite fighting through the pain and taking more than a week off from training, he was still in contention for the Paris-Roubaix win, but mechanical problems and a radio malfunction dropped him from the top group. Nevertheless, his perseverance and talent paid off as he held on to fourth place in the Roubaix Velodrome, but if he came up just short, it was yet another testament to how brutal the classics can be.

"Overall, the level was really good throughout the season. We won early in the season and we were ready for the Classics. We were fourth in Roubaix and we won in Plouay. Of course, there were some disappointments," Vanmarcke told Cycling News.

"The crash in Harelbeke ruined my classic. I could have been fourth or better in Roubaix, and I had chances in other races. Of course I was disappointed not to be selected for the World Championship. It would have been a good course for me."

"That crash was like five months of hard work gone to waste. In Flanders I proved that I could work for the team despite not training for nine days. I was really happy to see Alberto win after a great team effort, but it was a shame that Roubaix and his radio problems cost him the chance to win.

"I learned a lot from that period. I learned that when things go wrong or training is interrupted, all is not lost. Sometimes things go wrong, but if you stay calm and do the right things, you can still do something. Because of the crash, there was no pressure on me. I didn't even know if I could finish Flanders. The doctor thought he might only be able to do 3 or 4 hours. After that period, it was easier mentally. They weren't expecting me, and that was good. This might be the only time something like this happens in the Classic."

The Belgian's 2020 race program remains largely unchanged, with the Tour de la Provence in February to start the season.

The opening weekend will be the first big stage of the classic season before he completes the Belgian's one-day race. If he can stay healthy, the 31-year-old should once again be in contention for a number of races.

"I'm still motivated. I've always come close to winning and I've always competed against the best. I've just had some bad luck and things go wrong in the sprints, but I've always had confidence that I can fight.

"I still think it's possible. If I had more luck, if I made the right choices, or if I could have burst someone once or twice, I could have already won the Monument. So I keep going and I still believe."