Mathieu van der Poel of Alpecin-Deceuninck is feeling the pressure ahead of the Tour of Flanders in the absence of injured riders Wout van Aert and Jasper Stuyven. Van Aert suffered a broken collarbone in a recent crash, while Stuyven also underwent surgery for a fractured collarbone. Van der Poel, who is coming off a successful cyclo-cross season and E3 Saxo Classic victory, will now race without two of his strongest rivals in the upcoming Monument. Despite the path to success appearing to open up for him, Van der Poel prefers to face stiff competition and anticipates more pressure on his shoulders in the absence of Van Aert and Stuyven.
Van der Poel expressed sympathy for his fellow competitors who had to drop out of the Tour of Flanders just days before the race due to injuries. He mentioned that he always wants to compete against the best and feels disappointed that his rivals won’t be able to participate in the upcoming race. Despite the absence of Van Aert and Stuyven, Van der Poel acknowledged that Visma-Lease a Bike and Lidl-Trek still have strong teams, and he is prepared to do his best in the race regardless of the competition.
Christoph Roodhooft, a manager in Van der Poel’s Alpecin Deceuninck team, expressed confidence in the team’s ability to deliver a strong performance in the absence of Van Aert and Stuyven. Roodhooft stated that the team is capable of meeting the expectations set by Van der Poel and is not afraid of the competition at the upcoming Tour of Flanders. Despite the challenges posed by the absence of key riders, the team is determined to support Van der Poel and help him achieve success in the race.
Van der Poel’s teammate Jasper Philipsen, who recently won ahead of Van der Poel at Milan-Sanremo, will miss the Tour of Flanders to focus on Paris-Roubaix instead. This decision allows Philipsen to allocate his energies effectively and target specific races where he believes he can perform at his best. The team dynamics are crucial in determining the strategy for individual riders, and focusing on different races can help maximize their chances of success and optimize their performance throughout the season.
Fans can catch all the top cycling action, including the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, and Vuelta a Espana, live and on-demand on discovery+. The platform offers comprehensive coverage of major cycling events, allowing viewers to follow their favorite riders and teams throughout the season. With the absence of key riders like Van Aert and Stuyven, the upcoming races promise to be exciting and unpredictable, with new opportunities emerging for emerging talents like Van der Poel and Philipsen to showcase their skills and compete against some of the best riders in the world.
