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The Dutchman won Across Flanders on Wednesday, a race he had already dominated in 2019. Stefan Küng finished 6th.
Mathieu van der Poel will be one of the big favorites in the Tour of Flanders this Sunday.
AFP
A warning before the Tour of Flanders: Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin) won the semi-classic A travers la Flandre, Wednesday in Waregem, four days before the main meeting of the fortnight
The Dutchman, already winner in 2019, played masterfully in the final. He reacted to the entry of the last two kilometers to the attack of the Belgian Tiejs Benoot, whom he easily overtook on the line.
The leading group, six other riders strong, were settled for third place by Briton Tom Pidcock, reborn after having their first classics marred by digestive issues.
For his debut in the flandriennes, Tadej Pogacar paid a bad placement on the attack of the Ineos team (Turner, Pidcock) relayed by van der Poel 68 kilometers from the finish.
See you on Sunday
“They were very strong, it was complicated to come back”, admitted the reigning winner of the Tour de France, who tried in vain to return alone to the leading group, a sustained effort over 7-8 kilometers, before d try again afterwards, with his compatriot Jan Tratnik.
“I was there to learn,” added the Slovenian mischievously. “This race will serve me for Sunday, it will be another matter”.
If Pidcock and Pogacar gave reassuring signs of their condition in the run-up to the Tour of Flanders, van der Poel (27) showed his strength.
“I wasn’t sure I was the strongest in the leading group. I was good but not necessarily at my top”, estimated the grandson of Raymond Poulidor. “I hope to be on Sunday”.