Cycling: The cycling fans were looking forward to a duel between Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel. But now the Belgian will probably miss the Ronde van Vlaanderen. That changes a lot. Mathieu van der Poel is now the favorite - but his victory is anything but certain.
Van der Poel is named favourite
The pros have to cover 272,5 kilometers from Antwerp to Oudenaarde on the 106th Tour of Flanders. Once again, the Hellinges will decide who will win the second monument of the year. The Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg in particular are regarded as the executioners of this classic one-day race. As always, there are only a handful of favourites. The terrain is particularly beneficial Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin – Fenix) and wout van aert (Jumbo - Visma). The two cyclocrossers also promised an epic event in 2022. But now the Belgian might even be out due to illness. This clearly puts the Dutchman in the role of favourite.
Van Aert will probably not start
The news hit like a bomb: The Ronde will probably take place without van Aert's top favorite! As his team Jumbo - Visma confirmed, the Belgian does not feel well. That's bitter, because in 2022 he wanted to win the Tour of Flanders for the first time after failing so narrowly in 2020.
sports director Grisha Niermann:
"Of course it's possible that he won't start. If he's not there, we'll have to change our plan. It's a big disappointment and a setback because we can't replace him. We have a good team and two other riders who are among the best: Tiesj Benoot and Christophe Laporte.”
Wout van Aert is not feeling well, so he will not join the Tour of Flanders recon. His participation in the Tour of Flanders is unlikely. pic.twitter.com/dxsZvPrWSh
- Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) March 31, 2022
The race is more open than ever
Even if everyone is now on Mathieu van der Poel as the top favourites, the Tour of Flanders seems to be more open than ever. Because without wout van aert Jumbo - Visma will not appear quite as dominant and offensive as with the classics recently. And while Mathieu van der Poel doesn't have the team for that, there's one behind Tadej pogacar (UAE) and one Matej Mohoric (Bahrain – Victorious) huge question marks. Even they don't know whether this race suits them. If there was Team Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl. With Kasper Asgreen after all, you have the defending champion in your own ranks. The German fans are also hoping Nils Politt (Bora – hansgrohe).
Velomotion forecast: Dylan van Baarle causes a surprise
Admittedly, with our Velomotion forecast we are leaning a little out of the window. But while we write that the race is more open than ever, we also think that there are a few pros as potential winners. With the potential cancellation of Wout van Aert - and we just assume that's the case based on the latest reports - the race changes drastically. There is no longer a clearly superior team and all eyes will be on Mathieu van der Poel. It will be difficult for him to break away and assert himself. Because Quick-Step, Ineos and Jumbo - Visma also have more than one strong man for this terrain. It is quite conceivable that the favorites and co-favorites neutralize each other for a long time and then attack alternately. And that's exactly what we trust Dylan van baarle (Ineos Grenadiers) to.
☆ ☆ ☆ Dylan van Baarle (Ineos Grenadiers)
☆ ☆ Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin – Fenix), Kasper Asgreen (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl)
☆ Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), Nils Politt (Bora - hansgrohe), Matej Mohoric (Bahrain - Victorious)
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