The Dutchman has finished in one of the first two places in each of the last four editions of the Tour of Flanders and is aiming for a third title on this Flanders classic on Sunday.
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This year, the Tour of Flanders may have been played on Wednesday. After the heavy fall during Across Flanders involving Wout van Aert, forfeit, and Mads Pedersen, present in the Ronde but diminished, Mathieu van der Poel advances as ultra-favorite, Sunday March 31, to win his third Tour of Flanders (from 10 a.m. live on france.tv and from 1:35 p.m. on France 3).
If he wins, the Dutchman would, at 29 years old, become co-record holder for the number of victories on this Monument in the company of six other riders, with his sights set on the possibility, from next season, of winning alone of the record. Faced with the rider from Alpecin-Deceuninck, the outsiders will have to take risks and try team strategies.
The Lidl-Trek, which managed to beat Van der Poel on Ghent-Wevelgem, advances with a solid team, but with a Mads Pedersen “not 100%” according to his words. Team Visma-Lease a Bike with Matteo Jorgenson and Groupama-FDJ around Stefan Küng, Laurence Pithie and Valentin Madouas, will have their cards to play. Julian Alaphilippe, always put under pressure by his manager, will also start on the French side.
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