The rocket now appears alone, conquering a galaxy that it knows by heart. Mathieu Van der Poel cannot be more favorite than this Sunday on the Tour of Flanders which he has already won in 2020 and 2022. It is difficult to see who could resist the alien from the start of the season, crowned world champion cyclo-cross race at the beginning of February, particularly generous two weeks ago in Milan – San Remo (he sacrificed himself to offer victory to his sprinter teammate Jasper Philipsen), irresistible then in the E3 Grand Prix, and a bit too fiery last Sunday in Ghent-Wevelgem (beaten in the sprint by Mads Pedersen).
The other hot man of these first laps of 2024 has decided to skip it. Tadej Pogacar, impressive winner of the Strade Bianche at the beginning of March as well as at the Tour of Catalonia last week, is in fact reserving himself for a season which should lead him to do the Giro and the Tour de France.
As for Wout Van Aert, the Dutchman's lifelong rival, the Belgian is out because he is nursing multiple fractures following a terrible fall on A Travers la Flanders last Wednesday, like another outsider Jasper Stuyven, also broken collarbone. There remains Mads Pedersen, also affected in the fall, who will not be 100% this Sunday…
“It’s a shame for the Tour of Flanders, and especially for Wout and Jasper,” reacted Van der Poel. They have been preparing for this race for months. This perhaps puts even more pressure on my shoulders. I prefer to race when the best are at the start. »
Already four Monuments in the bag
At 29 years old, the grandson of Raymond Poulidor, who is aiming for a fifth coronation in a Monument (after two Tours of Flanders, a Paris-Roubaix and a Milan-San Remo), has never seemed so sure of himself. Asked about the reasons for his “gift” to his teammate Jasper Philipsen when he could hope to pin a second Milan-San Remo to his record after his success in 2023, the road world champion, outgoing winner of Paris-Roubaix suggested that he knew how to comply with team discipline despite his status as super champion.
“I had the cards in my hands in the finale,” he said. It's never easy of course to make such a decision. I would have liked to win this Classic a second time. But you had to be intelligent and realistic. There were two Alpecins in the final, we had to take advantage of it. Working to win a Monument for the team is also an incredible feeling. »
Comforted by the extension of his contract at Alpecin-Deceuninck until 2028, and by a ten-year contract with the Canyon bicycle brand – “probably five years as a rider then five more as an ambassador”, he says – Mathieu Van der Poel can calmly embark on a record hunt with a view to a summer marked by the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“I think about it a lot,” he emphasizes. Especially since it did not go well during the Tokyo Games (in 2021, the rider fell in the mountain bike event). The fact that it is in France is very special to me. But I haven't decided yet. Will I line up for the road race (August 3), the mountain bike race (July 29) or both? Everything is possible. My choice is not yet made. We think about it and we will make a decision after the Classics. » Time to conquer a few more stars.