Tadej Pogacar is going all in in his goal of conquering the Tour des Flandres. After thriving in the cobbles last year it became a major objective for the UAE Team Emirates to win the big one, and in anticipation to it he will no longer be racing Dwars door Vlaanderen.
Pogacar, whos' been absolutely dominant in both the stage-races he's participated early in the year, raced Milano-Sanremo this weekend where he was a headliner and rode to fourth on the line. His form is on spot and he's starting the E3 Saxo Classic tomorrow. This may end up being his final preparation race for Flandres.
He won't be racing Gent-Wevelgem, but was initially planned to ride Dwars door Vlaanderen. Three days before Flandres on the 29th of March, the Belgian cobbled classics would be the final step in preparation. Last year it's where he first tested his legs in the cobbles, missing the winning move and riding to 10th place at the line.
Pogacar is a prime stage-racer but his pure quality on the bike currently sees him as a big threat and contender even for races that were originally outside of his specialty. The cobbled classics currently see him as a major headliner as he seeks another monument win.