Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) did not impress during last weekends GP E3 Harelbeke and Brabantse Pijl but that doesn't
worry last years winner of Three Days of De Panne and Tour of Flanders.
Ballan told Belgian daily newsaper 'Het Laatste Nieuws': "I mainly came to train. To repeat my victory at the Tour of Flanders
still is my dream."
"I prefer to win again in Meerbeke than a first win in Paris - Roubaix." But first things first. Ballan is also defending
champ of Three Days of De Panne, which starts today. Ballan said: "But first the Three Days and then w'll see what Flanders
will bring. That will be a big lottery anyway."
"Its hard to overview the candidates for victory. Maybe I should suprise them in the final kilometres,"
Ballan said.
Its not easy to be defending champ of Flanders. "I will face a tough day, I am very well aware of that."
"I
feel the pressure, not only from the media but also from the team. On the other hand I have already won 'De Ronde'. I just
should take care that I will be ver strong on Sunday," Ballan concluded.
