Fabian Cancellara: "It is rare to have three guys, three superstars, all on such a high level for the Classics"

Fabian Cancellara's insight into the cobbled classics is one of the most informed and important ones. A multiple-time winner of both cobbled monuments, the former Swiss pro has raced alongside and against several of the riders who will headline the Tour of Flanders tomorrow, and he's analyzed what may go down.

"The Tour of Flanders is just around the corner and we have not one, not two, but three big favourites. That's something special already, and I'm super excited for Sunday - I think it's going to be a fantastic moment for our sport," Cancellara wrote in a column for Cyclingnews. "It is rare to have three guys, three superstars, all on such a high level for the Classics. You often have one guy who is looking stronger than the rest, or perhaps a rivalry between two... but to have three guys like Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel, and Tadej Pogačar doing battle will bring a whole new dimension to the race."

The Swiss legend has talked about how all three riders have different specialties and none is rated above the other two. It's meant to be a tight battle and the level all three have shown at the E3 Saxo Classic is a sign that it will be hard for anyone else to be able to match them. He's understood the pressure factor as well, in which Wout van Aert is the one that suffers from it the most - both by himself and the Belgian media.

There's a lot of talk that time is running out for Wout to win his first Ronde, but that's nonsense. I was 29 when I won it for the first time - that's a year older than Wout is now. It's never too late," Cancellara argued however. A three-time winner of the race, his track record is a good example on how experience in the classics is very valuable and favour the riders who've been in the peloton for more years.

"As for Mathieu, he has no pressure to block out. He has won Flanders twice, and that gives him a certain psychological advantage," Cancellara continued. "He can play with Wout, who wants badly to win and feels he could and perhaps should win. He raced with freedom at E3 and I think we'll see the same sort of Mathieu again."

As Tadej Pogacar is virtually in a position where he must attack in the climbs, Mathieu van der Poel finds himself somewhat in the middle, a potential ally to both, but also a rider willing to attack as was seen last week. Having won Milano-Sanremo, it is also possible that he will be less afraid to lose the race, take risks and end up benefiting from it.

As for the Slovenian, Cancellara was clear that he can by stating that "I dare say he could ride away from both of them. He has far less experience, and we saw some positioning and technical errors last Friday, which might not make so much of a difference at E3, but will count for double at Flanders. This is a 270km race, not a 200km race."

The Slovenian packs a good sprint and endurance, but as seen in Flanders last year and at E3 last week this at times is not enough. He may be the biggest weapon on the ascents. "Still, Tadej will have to drop Wout and Mathieu on the last time up the Kwaremont," Cancellara believes. "It's the longest climb and the one that suits him best. He dropped everyone but Mathieu there last year and again at E3 last week. I dare say it can be done."

In the possibility of a rider outside of those three taking the victory, he sees Jumbo-Visma as the main candidates: "Realistically, that fourth guy would be a Jumbo-Visma guy. They are like the golden QuickStep of old and they're making a true mark in cycling history - they really are on that level," he argues. The Dutch team has won all five main cobbled classics so far this spring, and Christophe Laporte specially has looked in pristine form this past week, and fresh due to the lack of racing early in the year.

"Christophe Laporte is the obvious candidate for this scenario, although I sooner see him sacrificing himself for Wout as this becomes the three-way battle we're all anticipating and secretly hoping for. I keep my word from my last column, Christophe Laporte will be ready to die for Wout van Aert on Sunday," he concluded.