Giant duel on the tour of the Flanders and a Luxembourg Pechvogel
Rad-world champion Tadej Pogacar (SLO/UAE) should also have a short time when his most important helper Nils Politt plunged to the ground and remained with a face that was dismantled with pain. But one day after the dress rehearsal for the Flanders Tour, the team gave the all-clear, both racing drivers posed in a photo with sunglasses and thumbs stretched up. The cobblestone spectacle can come.
« Fortunately, I can count on a strong team. The mood among us is good and everyone is fit, but we all have to have a great day to win, » says the 26-year-old Pogacar and also relies on Politt’s experience of ten participation in the Flanders Tour. « The fact that I don’t quite know the route? I can rely on my teammates who know the routes perfectly, » says Pogacar, who takes part in it for the third time.
« Can you let me go? »: Mats Wenzel rejects and drives into the spotlight
Mathieu is a good sprinter. So I will have to avoid a sprint with him.
Tadej Pogacar
The superstar will be able to use the support on the crucial passages and in the crunchy climbs. In the 109th edition of the cycling monument with 269 kilometers between Bruges and Oudenaarde, the next giant duel between Pogacar and the form strong Mathieu van der Poel (NL/Alpecin) is imminent. The reigning world champion meets his predecessor. Both are considered the most promising candidates for victory in the west of Belgium.
The Dutch Mathieu van der Poel from the Alpecin team in action. Photo: dpa
The three-time Flanders triumphant van der Poel absolutely wants to prevent the next success in the rich collection of the Slovenian exceptional driver. In 2023, Pogacar won 16 seconds before the Dutchman, last year van der Poel celebrated his third Flanders’ success – however, Pogacar was not there.
Two weeks ago, van der Poel won at Milan-Sanremo in front of Pogacar in the sprint. « Fortunately, the Tour of Flanders is a completely different race than Milan-Sanremo, » said Pogacar. The route demands a lot more energy. The route profile differs significantly to that in Italy. The tour and giro winner wants to quickly shake off his adversary. « Mathieu is a good sprinter, » said Pogacar and pushed after: « So I will have to avoid a sprint with him. »
Opportunity for the record victory
One who also belongs to the circle of favorites is Mads Pedersen (Lidl). The Dane, who recently won Gent-Wevelgem, is currently in good shape, but has to do without the support of noble helpers Alex Kirsch on Sunday. As in the previous year, the Luxemburger fails again on the tour of the Flanders. While Kirsch fell three days before the monument at Dwaars Door Vlaanderen and had to pause because of a fracture of a hand bone, the 32-year-old even missed the half-classic this year due to illness.
The Luxemburger hoped to get well again until Sunday, but that didn’t work. « I am sad to miss my favorite race of the year. The focus is now on Paris-Roubaix, » he wrote on Instagram on Friday. Already on Thursday he had told the « Luxembourg word » that he had to fit. From a Luxembourg perspective, at least Nina Berton (EF Education) should start with the men in the neighboring country among women as well as Bob Jungels (Ineos) and Arthur Kluckers (Tudor).
Alex Kirsch (VR), here at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic, misses the Tour of Flanders for the second time in a row. Photo: Getty Images
For Van der Poel, on the other hand, success would be particularly important. Because at the weekend he can be the sole victory record holder on the tour with the demanding Koppenberg. The grandson of the late French cycling hero Raymond Poulidor is currently shared by the most Flanders’ successes with racing drivers such as Fabian Cancellara and Tom Boons.
