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Mathieu van der Poel gears up for the Tour of Flanders this Sunday, facing tough competition, including Tadej Pogačar, Wout van Aert, Mads Pedersen, and debutant Remco Evenepoel. Van der Poel seeks his fourth title at De Ronde and embraces the challenge posed by Evenepoel. "The more strong riders there are, the faster the race opens up," he states, emphasizing that Evenepoel's elite status is not a disadvantage.
As the second favorite behind defending champion Pogačar, Van der Poel has trained in Spain and is ready for the grueling 280-kilometer race starting in Antwerp. He acknowledges the growing list of contenders, noting, "There might be even more favourites this year than last."
Van der Poel points out the resurgence of Wout van Aert and the consistent progress of Mads Pedersen. He also highlights Evenepoel’s strong team, including former teammate Gianni Vermeersch, who knows the course intimately.
Van der Poel stresses the importance of not underestimating Evenepoel, calling him a top-class rider. The addition of Evenepoel adds depth to the competition, setting the stage for an intense battle among cycling’s best.
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