Mathieu van der Poel: ‘I prefer to race with all the top riders’ says Tour of Flanders favourite

Two-time winner reflects on the absences of Jasper Stuyven and Wout Van Aert, but stresses the continued strength of Lidl-Trek and Visma-Lease a Bike

10:04, Saturday 30th March 2024

Daniel Benson

Editor in Chief

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Mathieu van der Poel and Mads Pedersen will do battle once more on Sunday, but the jury is out on Pedersen's condition

The men’s Tour of Flanders might still produce an epic encounter on Sunday but with Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) the outstanding favourite, Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) in hospital, and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) still nursing his wounds from a heavy mid-week fall, there’s little doubt that the level of expectancy on Van der Poel’s shoulders has never been higher.

The two-time winner’s record in the race is exceptional, and given his current form following a demonstration of power at the E3 Saxo Classic, and second in Gent-Wevelgem, some are expecting a procession through Flanders as the Dutch rider marches towards a record-equalling third title.

"The Tour of Flanders suits me. It's a race with a lot of intervals and climbs in quick succession. Not too long, but aggressive. Something I love,” he said in a statement released by his team ahead of the race.

While a run-away victory certainly cannot be ruled out at this stage, Van der Poel is understandably far more cautious. Despite the loss of Van Aert, Visma-Lease a Bike are far from a spent force, with Dylan Van Baarle and Matteo Jorgenson part of their robust ensemble. Lidl-Trek have lost Jasper Stuyven and Alex Kirsch but are a major threat. And the Tour of Flanders is littered with underdog victories and plot twists. Think of Stijn Devolder’s two wins, Nick Nuyens stealing a march on Fabian Cancellara, or even Kasper Asgreen’s sprint victory over Van der Poel just a few years ago.

Scripts can change in a race like Flanders, just as they did last week when Pedersen, Stuyven and Van Aert crashed in Dwars door Vlaanderen.

“I have never made it a secret that I prefer to race with all the top riders at the start,” Van der Poel said.

“Whether the absence of Wout and Jasper will affect me, you can't predict in advance. Perhaps there will be even more pressure on my shoulders, which doesn't make it any easier.

"On the other hand, Visma-Lease a Bike and Lidl-Trek remain two super strong blocks even without the presence of Van Aert and Stuyven, respectively. Jorgensen, Benoot, Pedersen, Milan, you name it.”

Even with Jasper Philipsen missing the race, Alpecin-Deceuninck’s out-and-out leader remains entirely focused on the task at hand. Distractions only sap energy, and in the last few days the world champion has rested and recovered from his last outing at Gent-Wevelgem to be in the optimal condition come Sunday when he lines up at the start in Antwerp.

“At least with me, the focus remains the same. I'm just going to do my thing. Winning the Tour of Flanders is never easy and Sunday will be no different. How I'm going to tackle it? I can't say much about that beforehand. It depends on how the race evolves, and how the situation is. Of course, I will take my responsibility, but as I said, in my opinion, Visma-Lease a Bike and Lidl-Trek stay super strong opponents."

The 29-year-old also expressed his sympathy for the riders involved in the heavy fall that took place in Dwars door Vlaanderen that left Stuyven with a broken collarbone, Van Aert with multiple fractures, and Pedersen reeling on the floor before limping out of the race soon after. Van der Poel is no stranger to crashes and setbacks, and he more than most, understands the pitfalls that come with territory as an elite athlete. In this case, missing Dwars door Vlaanderen was a lucky escape.

“It was never on the menu, because the double E3 - Gent-Wevelgem was already hard enough. And we will never know if I would have been involved in the crash as well, but it could have been just like that, of course. This is particularly unfortunate for De Ronde, but even more for Wout and Jasper. Then you live for months towards those important two races and just a few days before, you are sidelined. You really don't wish that on anyone."

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