Toms Skujiņš: 'The responsibility is on Alpecin-Deceuninck for Tour of Flanders'

All eyes turn to Mathieu van der Poel as Lidl-Trek head into Sunday a weakened force, but Latvian's game plan does not change in Jasper Stuyven's absence

15:27, Saturday 30th March 2024

George Poole

Junior Writer

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Toms Skujiņš has enjoyed the best Classics campaign of his career to date

As the Tour of Flanders draws closer, one prevailing theme has emerged throughout the second half of this past week: all the pressure is quickly turning to Mathieu van der Poel and his Alpecin-Deceuninck team.

The world champion admitted as much in his pre-race comments on Saturday morning, whilst Toms Skujiņš of Lidl-Trek is the latest rider to point the finger of expectation towards the two-time champion. GCN spoke to the Latvian shortly after crashes ruled his teammates, Jasper Stuyven and Alex Kirsch, out of Sunday's race.

"It definitely puts more responsibility on Alpecin, because they’re more of a favourite now, and maybe it’s more Van der Poel’s to lose," Skujiņš told GCN on Thursday.

"It’s possible that people will gang up more on him and put it on his shoulders to make the race. That’s definitely a chance."

GCN joined Lidl-Trek on their Tour of Flanders recon on Thursday, a group ride that was missed by team leader Mads Pedersen, who was doing his best to recover from his injuries sustained during the high-speed crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen a day earlier.

The Dane is fit enough to start on Sunday but his hopes have been damped somewhat, not only by his condition but with the loss of Stuyven, who would have been a reliable co-leader for Lidl-Trek. To beat Van der Poel, Lidl-Trek will hope to use the numbers game to their advantage - just as they did at Gent-Wevelgem - and Skujiņš is under no illusions that Stuyven's withdrawal places the spotlight on him to perform.

"They were always looking at me anyway, so I don’t think it changes much in my case," he said of their opponents. "I think, for me actually, it’s a pity Jasper is not there because he was a great ally to have in the moves.

"It also means that there’s more responsibility for us to make sure that we don’t miss moves because if you have an extra guy who can follow stuff it’s always easier."

Pedersen was the first to point to Skujiņš as a valuable option for Lidl-Trek in Friday's press conference and he is right to do so. An ever-reliable teammate, the 32-year-old has positioned himself as a would-be winner in his own right this season, with only the irrepressible Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) able to better Skujiņš at Strade Bianche a few weeks ago.

Since that standout performance, the Latvian has consistently ridden strongly, producing valuable rides on behalf of his teammates at Milan-San Remo and Dwars door Vlaanderen, as well as notching an eighth-place finish for himself at the E3 Saxo Classic.

No Stuyven or Kirsch, but Lidl-Trek remain strong

Skujiņš has never cracked the top 50 in three appearances at Flanders, but he will give his all to sneak into the top 10 or better on Sunday

Skujiņš is indicative of the blistering manner in which Lidl-Trek have approached the Classics, which has seen both Kirsch and Jonathan Milan join the 32-year-old in producing career-best performances over the cobbles of Belgium. Kirsch's presence will certainly be missed on Sunday, but Skujiņš is confident that the American team have enough in reserve.

"Luckily the team is strong enough that we have good guys coming in. I’m sure the directors were having a hard decision to make over who to leave home for Sunday anyway, so now the decision is a bit easier in an unfortunate way."

Pedersen, Skujiņš and Milan will be joined by Tim Declercq, Otto Vergaed, Edward Theuns and Dan Hoole on Sunday, and although the pressure is certainly on Van der Poel's Alpecin-Deceuninck, Lidl-Trek are not shirking their own responsibilities.

"I would be surprised if we don’t put a guy on the front to pull," Pedersen told the media on Friday.

As the Dane himself proved in 2018 with a surprising second-place finish, we must expect the unexpected from the Tour of Flanders and if a wildcard is to claim the title this weekend, Skujiņš is as best placed as any to take advantage.

"If there’s crosswinds the race could split up way earlier and so on. In any Classic there’s always a chance for an outsider, does it make it more or less, I don’t know. We’ll find out on Sunday."

For the latest news, interviews and analysis from the world of professional cycling, be sure to check out the Racing tab on the GCN website and visit our essential guide to The Spring Classics to stay up to date with all of the action from cycling's most exciting season.