Lotto Soudal`s Tim Wellens returns to the Ruta del Sol on Wednesday as the defending champion, but having only recently recovered from illness, the Belgian has humbly said that taking the overall title is `less of a goal`, and that the Spanish stage race will allow him to get back into a racing rhythm ahead of the spring Classics. Wellens has already tasted victory this season, at the Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana - part of the Challenge Mallorca series - in early February, but was hit soon afterwards with a viral infection, which has kept him out of competition since. `I`m fully recovered, but the illness has taken a bit longer than expected, and I could only resume training after a week of complete rest,` Wellens said on the Lotto Soudal website.ADVERTISEMENT `I`ll start the Ruta del Sol in good shape, but I`ll certainly feel that week without training,` he said. `As I couldn`t follow my planned training scheme, the Ruta del Sol is - in contrast to last year - less of a goal in itself. Of course, I`ll go for the best possible result, but the kilometres in competition towards the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad are also a nice bonus.` He could tag on a little extra training to make up for what he`s missed, too. `If the stage schedule allows it, I`ll do some post-race kilometres,` Wellens said. `I`ll target a nice place on the GC, but that goes hand in hand with good stage results.`
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