"Without any feeling of revenge".
Here is how Julian Alaphilippe will approach the Tour of Flanders this Sunday.
Unhappy defeated in what was to be a three-way fight with Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) and Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), the world champion had to give up in 2020 after being knocked down by a biker.
An unfortunate event which does not run through the mind of the Frenchman, determined to beat his two best enemies on the classics: “I am not thinking of the fall.
I accept it.
It's life !
For me, 2021 is a new edition.
The conditions are different ”.
For what will only be his second participation in the “Ronde”, the Deceuninck-Quickstep rider will not be in conquered territory but rather in hostile territory.
The profiles of the Belgian Wout Van Aert and the Dutchman Mathieu Van der Poel, should allow them to reign on the Flemish cobbles.
Large pieces of stone, however, less damaged than those sleeping on our side of the border, which penalizes less the frail carcass of the world champion.
Unlike Paris-Roubaix, all flat, there are a number of “mountains” and “berg” on the Tour of Flanders.
These very short and very severe ribs can allow Julian Alaphilippe to get out of the game on his two companions.
The Deceuninck-Quickstep, a classic machine
The versatility of the Belgian and the Dutch is still a problem for the French, especially for the last ten kilometers.
Unless there is a twist, he will find it difficult to distance Van der Poel or Van Aert enough so that they cannot come back to him on this final portion absolutely devoid of any relief.
In the sprint, everyone would have their chances even though overall Wout Van Aert seems to have a better burst of speed.
Except that Van der Poel had beaten the Belgian last year on the Tour of Flanders and that Alaphilippe had beaten the Dutchman in the final of the Flèche Brabançonne in 2020.
One of the keys for the Frenchman could be his team.
By far the best equipped to handle a classic, the Deceuninck-Quickstep had foiled the plans of a Van der Poel who was nevertheless very leggy on March 26 on the E3 GP and the Dane Kasper Asgreen had finally raised his arms in front of his teammate Florian Sénéchal.
"If Deceuninck is at the same level as the GP of E3, it will not be easy", admitted Wout Van Aert.
“Natural selection should operate in the last difficulties.
I hope to be in front, with a few teammates.
Mathieu must undoubtedly hope for the same thing, ”he continued.
The much higher requirement of a route like that of the “Round” compared to that of E3, could reduce the importance of teamwork when the very last climbs come.
What should be a three-way fight, could ultimately reserve the same scenario as a few weeks ago on Milan-San Remo.
These three protagonists were already expected to fight a battle to win the first Monument of the year.
The Belgian Jasper Stuyven had finally played the marking between the favorites to win on Via Roma and contradict all forecasts.
The rider of the Trek-Segafredo could still prowl in the wheels of the cadors to punish them when they least expect it.
Other outsiders like Dylan Van Baarle, recent winner of À Travers la Flandre, Greg Van Avermaet or Mads Pedersen, like the Belgian, will be on the lookout for the slightest mistake.
Read also
Why co-sponsorship has become the new fad of the peloton