Sep Vanmarcke is riding the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad as he builds up for a classics campaign and an eventual defense role for new team captain Chris Froome in the Tour de France.

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Both riders joined Israel Start-Up Nation for 2021 as the team expands in its second year in the WorldTour. After his debut in the Etoile de Bessèges last week, Belgian Vanmarcke will race the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad cobbled classic at the end of this month on February 27th.

Froome, a four-time Tour de France, will be keeping eye on his new teammate because he will count on him later in July.

"For me, when we were talking about coming to Israel Start-Up Nation, that was one of the questions or subjects we talked about," Vanmarcke told FloBikes in a recent interview. 

"And if I wanted to go to the team, to the Tour de France to help. And I haven't always been a fan of the Tour de France, that's for sure. A few times in the other teams, I asked not to go.

"But of course, they spoke about it already before coming and I should go to the Tour. I know this an important role for me. Because the Tour starts on Brittany where there can be crosswinds and if I feel like I can have a real value to the team, so it's worth it for me to go."

Vanmarcke last raced the Tour de France in 2018. Three years later, he will be helping Froome try to make history with a fifth title.

"It does motivate me if I can play a big role in helping them keeping them safe. Then it's then it's worth it to go."

Vanmarcke is racing Omloop Het Nieuwsblad to win but also building up for the 2021 season. His aims will be the big monuments, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix and then with Froome in July.