Tadej Pogacar eyes solo attack in bid to edge Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel at Tour of Flanders

Updated 01/04/2023 at 16:01 GMT

Reaching the final section of the Tour of Flanders alone and avoiding a sprint finish against Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel could be the key to success, says Tadej Pogacar. The two-time Tour de France champion was beaten by Van Aert at the E3 Saxo Classic last week and doesn't want to decide his fate at the end of a gruelling, cobble-strewn 273km course.

'It's wheel to wheel!' - Van Aert wins E3 Saxo Classic with sprint win over Van der Poel and Pogacar

Tadej Pogacar says that his best chance of victory at Sunday’s Tour of Flanders will be by making it to the end alone and avoiding a sprint finish with the likes of Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert.

The trio are the favourites in Belgium; Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) warmed up with victory at the E3 Saxo Classic, while Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is the defending champion after edging out Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) last year.

Two-time Tour de France winner Pogacar acknowledged ahead of the event that his best chance lies in losing Van Aert and Van der Poel on the cobble-strewn 273km course and not relying on the Oude Kwaremont-Paterberg finale.

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“I have to have the best legs after a long race,” Pogacar said to Cycling News. “For me, the crucial thing will be to come alone to the finish, that’s how I can win. But that makes it even more hard.”

He added: “It’s a really, really long race, and a lot can happen before the final. I need to save a lot of energy and choose the right moment to go. I don’t have anything in mind. We will see on Sunday how the race goes, how are the legs.”

The battle between the big three riders is hotly anticipated, and Pogacar was quick with a comeback when it was pointed out to him that he has never won a one-day race when Van Aert and Van der Poel were also competing.

“It’s not unusual, they also didn’t win a Grand Tour where we all started,” he said.

Jumbo-Visma are the team in form coming into the event, after Van Aert’s win at E3 Saxo Classic and Christophe Laporte’s victory at Gent-Wevelgem.

“Jumbo-Visma have a strong team, so I think they will play as in all the Classics up until now,” Pogacar said.

Pogacar durante la E3 Saxo Classic 2023

Image credit: Getty Images

When asked about Van der Poel, he replied: “He will probably just go and attack on some random climbs.”

The hilly and cobbly challenge of Flanders hasn’t been historically kind to Tour de France champions – only Eddy Merckx and Louison Bobet have won both events – but Pogacar’s motivation for being there is clear.

“I like the races. It’s as simple as that,” he said. “I feel good, my shape is good. It would be a waste if I just stayed home and watched it on TV.”

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