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After a busy closing kilometre on the Tour of Flanders it was Mathieu van der Poel who got here out on high for the second time in three years having performed an ideal tactical sport on the run to the road in Oudenaarde.
The Dutchman had seemed all set for yet one more two-man dash end after using the ultimate kilometres alongside Tadej Pogačar on the entrance of the race, however Van der Poel slowed the tempo late on earlier than launching his dash.
Van der Poel backed up his rival a lot that the Slovenian was swamped by the chase group at 250 metres to go, leaving him free on the entrance of the group to dash for a second Tour of Flanders victory.
“They have been coming actually quick from behind, so I made a decision to dash from far on my own,” he defined after the end. “He went up Oude Kwaremont and Pater[berg] actually quick. I used to be virtually on the level of dropping. On the finish it was a situation I’ve had 3 times earlier than, so I knew it already. I used to be solely taking Tadej into consideration
“It was wonderful that he was busy with me and never with the others coming again. It was a little bit of a shock to see it play out like that.”
Pogačar would finally find yourself in fourth place on the line as Dylan Van Baarle (Ineos Grenadiers) and Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) shot previous to fill the remainder of the rostrum. Earlier than that closing poker sport with 13km to go, nevertheless, Pogačar had put Van der Poel in hassle together with his tempo up the race’s closing hill, the fearsome Paterberg.
“I’ve by no means had a lot lactic acid [as on the Paterberg], however I knew I needed to recover from on his wheel,” Van der Poel mentioned. “I had no alternative. I simply tried to recuperate a bit of bit each time I used to be within the wheel, however I used to be simply hurting so much. I’ve labored extraordinarily exhausting for it and I simply went 100 per cent. I am actually pleased it has labored out.
“On Kwaremont and Paterberg I used to be actually attempting to carry the wheel of Tadej. He was extremely robust up there. Particularly the Paterberg was actually on the restrict for me. However then I had a number of kilometres to get the legs again turning and give attention to the dash.
“He was perhaps strongest within the race, and he rode offensively. I’d’ve applauded him if he had gained or completed on the rostrum. Possibly he simply must dash right here a number of extra occasions to get it proper.”
Van der Poel’s victory comes simply three weeks after making his season debut at Milan-San Remo following a protracted interval of rehabilitation from a lingering again concern.
At first of March it was reported that he can be again in time to race Flanders, however he returned forward of schedule and in time to take victory at his largest purpose of the dash – alongside Paris-Roubaix in two weeks’ time.
“It is unimaginable. I labored so exhausting for this one,” he mentioned. “At first it wasn’t even certain if I’d get to the Classics and to win Ronde after Dwars door Vlaanderen is unimaginable.
“First I’ll get pleasure from this one,” he replied when requested about Roubaix. “I labored extremely exhausting to be right here and I’ve lots of people to thank. I’ll get pleasure from it with them.”
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