Mathieu van der Poel has kept himself out of the spotlight in his preparation for the Tour of Flanders, recovering from a cold and the strains of winning the E3 Saxo Classic while avoiding the hype and anticipation that always accompanies the Ronde.

While long-time rival Wout van Aert suffered a defeat at the Dwars door Vlaanderen, drawing criticism for his tactical choices, van der Poel spent a quiet week, training in Belgium and preparing for the eagerly awaited duel with Tadej Pogačar.

"I just want to win the race on Sunday. If I can do that, the record will come naturally," van der Poel said through the Alpecin-Deceuninck team.

"It's incredibly special, I never imagined I'd be in this position. But it's not something I actively think about during the race." Van der Poel's palmares at Flanders is impressive: in six appearances he has taken three victories, a fourth place in 2019 and two second places, behind Pogačar in 2023 and in a sprint against Asgreen in 2021.

"The Tour of Flanders remains the Classic that I love the most. As a child I watched it on TV with admiration, and since my first participation I felt a strong bond with this race" explained the Dutch champion.

The Alpecin-Deceuninck team will present itself with a reshuffled lineup due to some injuries, but the objective remains clear: to support van der Poel in his hunt for a fourth victory.

"We are prepared for any scenario, positive or negative. The key is to stay calm in every situation," concluded van der Poel, true to his character.

Sprint Cycling Photo