Head in the handlebars, Mathieu Van Der Poel is annoyed.
The big favorite of the Tour of Flanders has just missed the double, 168 days after his victory in the 2020 edition in October.
Van Der Poel looked very strong and had a near perfect race.
But he was beaten in the sprint by Kasper Asgreen, the Danish champion, teammate of Julian Alaphilippe at Deceuninck - Quick Step.
Ten days ago, Asgreen had already won the GP E3, considered a “mini” Tour of Flanders.
In 2019, Asgreen finished 2nd in this event.
Twenty-four years after Rolf Sorensen's victory, a Dane wins again on the “Round”.
By isolating himself with Asgreen, Van Der Poel seemed to have done the hard part.
By attacking 17 km from the finish at the top of Vieux Quaremont, he had managed to sideline Wout Van Aerts (Jumbo Visma), his eternal rival since they were children in the undergrowth of cyclo-cross events.
But the rolling machine, Raymond Poulidor's grandson, was therefore surprised by Asgreen, who maneuvered perfectly in this long sprint.
🚴 The Danish Kasper Asgreen (Deceuninck - Quick Step) wins the Tour of Flanders 2021 by beating, to everyone's surprise, the defending champion Mathieu van der Poel in the sprint in Oudenaarde!
@RondeVlaanderen #Cycling pic.twitter.com/Zs3YgPq6NP
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) April 4, 2021
Patrick Lefevere's team, the “WolfPack”, therefore won a new monument, its 34th.
Julian Alaphilippe had been very active, trying to shake the leading group several times.
But 24 km from the finish, when Kasper Asgreen attacked and took Van Der Poel and Van Aert with him, he did not follow.
At that moment, one would have thought that the World Champion had made a tactical error.
But what followed showed that Alaphilippe was ultimately not at his best and that in his team, Asgreen was the trump card.
Alaphilippe was also released from the 2nd group in Old Quaremont.
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The first French is Anthony Turgis, who finished 8th.
Fourth last year and 10th in Milan-San-Rémo, the Essonnien from Direct Energie still managed a magnificent race, attacking, filling holes alone and showing himself at the forefront.
It's the best French for several weeks on the classics.
