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"Anybody else who says they're going for the win is not being 100% honest" - Clear gap between Van der Poel, Van Aert and rest of the field according to Oliver Naesen
CyclingSunday, 24 March 2024 at 15:30
Whenever they take to the startline, all eyes turn to Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. For the remaining riders, a feeling of dread comes over as they realise barring miracle they won't be competing for the win believes Oliver Naesen.
The 33-year-old Belgian currently rides for Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team and is competing at Gent Wevelgem this Sunday. Although van Aert is absent, van der Poel is present, leaving the rest of the peloton - Naesen included - left with the unenviable task of finding a way to stop the world champion from adding yet another win to his palmares.
"Today, if you speak to Mathieu, he will say ‘I race for the win’," previewed Naesen in a pre-race interview with GCN ahead of this year's edition of Gent Wevelgem. "Anybody else who says that, they’re not really being 100% honest."
"When the difference between the top guys and yourself is so high, it’s not demoralising at all actually, because there’s not much you can do. It’s natural. I’m just being honest actually. You can just do your best and finish where you finish. What else is there to do?” Naesen questions. "I often analyse my races afterwards, and many times on the climbs where I’ve done my best results and my best efforts, I see the times are getting beaten day in day out. There’s really not much you can do if that’s the case."
"Right now I’m in really good shape, even if it’s not the best ever. But my top shape today only allows me to aim for like… you know like in Omloop when I was fourth – that was a great result – or in E3 I’m certain I would have ridden for top 10 without my puncture," he concludes. "That’s where I’m at. I have a really high level, I’m really pleased with it, but to say I’m going for the win in these races. I will not forbid myself, of course, but I cannot say it’s realistic.”
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