Quick Step Alphavinir has selected a strong lineup for both the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the Courne Brussel Courne.

The Belgian team has won 10 races in the last three weeks and will look for its strength to be decisive in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday, while Fabio Jacobsen will defend his sprinter in Courne Brussel-Coone on Sunday.

Tour of Flanders winner Kasper Asgreen has recovered quickly from COVID-19 and recently ran the Volta Ao Algarve. Also on the roster are Joseph Cerny, veteran Iljo Keisse, 2020 runner-up Yves Lampert, Florian Senechal, 2019 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad winner Zdenek Stibal, and Bert Van Lerberghe.

World champion Julian Alaphilippe has opted not to aim for the 2022 Cobbled Classic, while Remco Evenpoel will compete in the upcoming Tirreno-Adriatico.

Quick Step Alphavinil announced that domestique Tim Declercq will not race for the weekend and for a few weeks afterward as he recovers from pericarditis.

"His symptoms have subsided and there will be no long-term negative effects, but he will follow his doctor's advice. I will do my best to come back stronger than ever," de Klerk wrote in an Instagram message.

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad has 13 Flemish mountains and seven cobbled sections, and the combination of Muur-Kapelmuur and Bosberg is usually a hard race, but Sunday's Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne will be a tough one with a final climb at 50km from the finish The Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne race on Sunday is more for sprinters, with a final climb at 50km from the finish.

Jacobsen has already won four sprints this season, and Quick-Step Alphavinir will be looking for its fifth win in 2022. Jacobsen and Jannik Steimle will replace Asgreen and Cerny on the roster, with Caisse, Lampert, Stybar, Van Lerberghe, and Senechal providing crucial support.

"As a Belgian team, the opening weekend is always very exciting. The riders in particular are looking forward to a good test of the conditions," said Tom Stiels, sport director of Quick Step Alfa Vinyl, which won the Omloop in 1996.

"There are many riders who can do well in the Omloop, including Kasper, Yves, Florian, and Zdenik.

"Josef may lack experience in this type of race, but he has the horsepower and the newcomers that Iljo can mentor.

Cycling News will have Patrick Fletcher, Daniel Ostanek, and Josh Croxton in Belgium for live coverage of both races, with exclusive news, interviews, and analysis.