Mathieu van der Poel’s victory in Milan-San Remo on Saturday was a masterclass experience, however he and Tadej Pogačar are nonetheless neck-and-neck on the subject of favorite standing for the Tour of Flanders and the subsequent Monument win.
Thanks to a wet day in Ireland on Saturday, I watched extra of Milan-San Remo than I ever have earlier than, flicking between the lads’s and ladies’s races.
The ladies’s race was actually fascinating. It was fairly much like the lads’s race in some methods, as a result of it was tough to make the race onerous, and the terrain didn’t current alternatives for among the favourites, so we noticed fairly an enormous group on the highest of the Poggio. That’s an enormous distinction from 5 years in the past, to have so many riders on an analogous degree. The riders and groups are significantly better, so there are extra folks in a position to be collectively within the last, besides when the course is absolutely tough, and San Remo isn’t that form of race.
The assault from Elisa Longo Borghini got here on the good second, however sadly with SD Worx and the facility that they had, they have been at all times going to shut it down for a dash as a result of that they had Lorena Wiebes, and that vast effort from Lotte Kopecky.
It was an enormous win for Wiebes, however I used to be additionally actually impressed by Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. When she introduced that she was coming again to the highway after the Olympics, I believed she was going to have some difficulties as a result of the extent the ladies are racing at is so excessive now and he or she’s been gone for therefore lengthy, so I used to be anticipating her to take a very long time to search out her ft, however she’s up there already, and it’s nice to see. Her and Vos each sprinting was not good, however she’s not likely a lead-out rider, and I believe it was most likely so quick in the long run that it was onerous to get organised.
When the lads’s race began, there was an enormous query over the climate, but it surely was a bit like once I gained in 1986, with horrible climate firstly after which it dried up over in direction of the coast, so fortunately there was loads of time for the riders to heat up, and the climate didn’t have an effect on the race an excessive amount of.
Before we discuss concerning the massive names, although, I wish to give some credit score to one of many domestiques who possibly doesn’t get praised sufficient for what they do, and that’s Silvan Dillier. What an infinite efficiency, controlling the breakaway, he should have performed 200 kilometres on the entrance!
Thanks to Dillier’s management, the primary a part of the race was fairly regular, what you’d anticipate, after which all of it grew to become hectic on the Cipressa. Even earlier than the successful assault, so many riders noticed their race already over on the backside of the climb, held up behind a crash simply as Tim Wellens set that killer tempo. Even Pogačar was out of place.
It was mind-boggling how briskly UAE have been going, and even they obtained shuffled round a bit. They didn’t have Isaac del Toro after they wanted him, and I do marvel if it might need been a unique scenario if he’d been there and set an actual climbing tempo. In the top, although, I believe it was at all times going to be Pogačar, Van der Poel and Ganna who ended up within the entrance.
They went so quick up the climb, however the lack of cohesion behind actually helped, as a result of no groups have been actually getting organised, or they wished to avoid wasting one thing for the dash, in order that helped them keep away between the Cipressa and the Poggio, one thing that’s traditionally been onerous to do.
On the Poggio, Van der Poel knew Pogačar was going to assault, he didn’t even have to look – while you’re as skilled as he’s, you may simply really feel it. He was at all times proper within the wheel, you possibly can see the best way he was working, and I knew he wasn’t going to get into issue in any respect. I wasn’t stunned when he put within the assault on the prime, as a result of in the event you poke the bear, even in the event you’re the world champion, he’s going to struggle again, and Van der Poel is a extremely massive bear.
Then within the dash, the best way Ganna got here again late truly labored effectively, as a result of it didn’t complicate issues an excessive amount of, and in addition meant that Van der Poel and Pogačar saved driving within the last as a result of they didn’t need him to return again. But in the end, Van der Poel rode the dash completely, and he was so explosive when he launched. He was simply on prime and in management all the best way.
When you have a look at San Remo, you’d assume that it might be a bonus to Pogačar with the Cipressa and the Poggio, as a result of we all know how explosive he’s, and even whether it is onerous for him to make them actually, tough, they’re nonetheless powerful climbs while you’re going at that tempo. So it was going to be tough for Van der Poel to match Pogačar, however the best way he did it on Saturday, he was only a grasp. It was a masterclass.
An enormous battle at Flanders
With Flanders and Roubaix developing, that are extra his terrain, and the best way he’s driving, it’s going to be fascinating to see who can problem the Dutch rider within the two massive races.
It seems like benefit Van der Poel within the Belgian Classics, however we nonetheless must see the place Van Aert, Pedersen and all these guys are throughout this week with E3 and Gent-Wevelgem. But in the intervening time, Van der Poel is the massive favorite for Flanders. Pogačar goes to be up there as effectively, he’ll be shut if not equal to Van der Poel, as a result of we’ve seen the best way he can experience on the cobbles as in the event that they’re not even there.
The key a part of the parcours and the battle would be the Oude Kwaremont. It’s a protracted part of cobbles and the climb goes on and on, so Pogačar can actually put Van der Poel in issue, extra so than in Milan-San Remo. Van der Poel must be at his finest if he needs to match Pogačar.
I believe Pogačar will likely be within the combine in races like E3 and Gent-Wevelgem, however I don’t truly know why he’s racing them. He’s a racer, he loves being within the motion, however generally that additionally means being within the harmful stuff. With the wind and the terrain, these races are at all times that bit extra dangerous than driving one thing like Milan-San Remo. For a rider like him, if he gained E3 or Gent-Wevelgem, they’re not massive within the broad scheme of issues, we gained’t even be speaking about that after it will get to the Tour de France.
He additionally doesn’t have to race them to heat as much as Flanders. He has sufficient expertise in that race, he might go away and put together in one other manner, or he might experience them with security in thoughts and never take any danger, however the factor is Pogačar doesn’t do this. When he will get that adrenaline circulate, he’s going to become involved, and that’s the place the hazard is. So for a rider whose goal is the Tour, I’m stunned he’s doing so lots of them.
The group ought to have the ability to discuss to him and say ‘Look, that is an excessive amount of of a harmful programme, we simply don’t need you to do it’ but it surely appears very a lot that what he needs to do, he will get permission to do it to fairly an enormous extent, and that would end up to have an effect on his preparations for the Tour.
What else can Van der Poel win?
Both Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar have gained three of the 5 Monuments, they usually should be eager about whether or not they can win all 5 – even when Milan-San Remo appears to be an issue for Pogačar.
I don’t assume it’s inconceivable for Van der Poel to win Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Last yr we noticed him racing Liège, however the best way he’d been racing all of the cobbled Classics, he hadn’t actually performed any particular preparation for the race, like a stage race or something. But then he got here to the race and completed third, after a crash at an important second, so he actually stunned me with that efficiency. So I believe Liège is actually one he can win.
For Lombardy, although, I believe the climbs are too lengthy and tough, so I believe that will be harder for him to win. It’s like Pogačar with San Remo: there’s a risk, but it surely’s going to be very, very tough.
We might see each riders find yourself caught on 4 Monuments. I’m hoping so, a minimum of. I solely obtained 4 Monuments, I by no means gained Flanders, so I’d be completely satisfied, as a result of then I’d be equal to them.