Mathieu van der Poel can win his third Tour of Flanders on Sunday. A battle with Wout van Aert and the strong block of Lidl-Trek was announced, until Van Aert and Stuyven fell on Wednesday in Dwars door Vlaanderen, meaning their spring is over.
Van der Poel did not drive through Flanders and thus escaped the crowd trap with big names. “Going straight through Flanders has never been an option for me, the double E3 – Gent-Wevelgem at the weekend was tough enough,” said Van der Poel in an interview distributed by his Alpecin-Deceuninck team.
“We will never know whether I would also have been involved in the fall, but of course it could have been. It is especially a shame for the Ronde, but even more so for Wout (Van Aert) and Jasper (Stuyven). Then you live for months towards those two important races and a few days before you are sidelined. You really wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”
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“With an open mind”
Van Aert had done everything he could to be at the top in the Tour and so a new duel between the eternal rivals was announced. Stuyven said that he was never better and justified that with a strong E3 in which he finished second. He was one of the main weapons of the Lidl-Trek block.
“I have never made it a secret that I would prefer to race with all the top riders at the start. With an open mind,” says Van der Poel. “You cannot predict in advance whether the absence of Wout and Jasper will affect me. There may even be more pressure on my shoulders, which won’t make it any easier.”
“For me, at least, the focus remains the same. I’m just going to do my thing. Winning the Tour of Flanders is never easy and that will be no different on Sunday. I can’t say much now about how I want to approach it. It depends on the rate. Of course I take my responsibility, but in my opinion Visma-Lease a Bike and Lidl-Trek remain super strong opponents.”
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Never worse than fourth
Van der Poel has an unlikely track record in the Tour of Flanders. Last year he came second behind Tadej Pogacar. He won in 2020 and 2022, came second in 2021 and 2023 and fourth in his first participation in 2019.
“I like the Tour of Flanders. It is a race with many intervals and climbs in quick succession. Not too long, but aggressive. Something I love,” he says.
Heavy training on Wednesday
Van der Poel gained confidence by winning the E3 Saxo Classic on Friday with an impressive solo. On Sunday he was beaten by two in a sprint in Ghent-Wevelgem by Mads Pedersen.
“My first ever win in the E3 Saxo Classic was a great one and gave me all the confidence I needed for what lies ahead. Of course I would also have liked to win Gent-Wevelgem, but Mads Pedersen was simply the strongest. I didn’t have the legs I had on Friday and maybe that wasn’t so illogical. But I think I can look back on last weekend positively.”
After two tough races in three days it was time for some rest. “Monday and Tuesday were all about resting. On Wednesday I completed a tough workout. Thursday and Friday are again all about rest and putting some tension on the legs. Saturday is limited to a quiet coffee ride to be as fresh as possible at the start on Sunday.”
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2024-03-29 15:14:34
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