Gianni Vermeersch on Mathieu van der Poel and the Tour of Flanders - "Mathieu does have the mental advantage"

The E3 Saxo Classic saw the big three take the podium, and a similar outcome is anticipated in the upcoming Tour of Flanders, although there may be a potential reshuffle in the rankings, according to Gianni Vermeersch.

Vermeersch was not part of the peloton, but he kept a close eye on the race. “It was a very nice race. Too bad Mathieu just couldn't finish it, that would have been the icing on the cake. But it was just a beautiful race to watch and with those three men on the podium.That makes it very nice,” he told Indeleiderstrui.

He continues, “I think they are very close together. During the match, you could see that Mathieu and Tadej were a bit stronger than Wout. But in the end, Wout wins the match, and that's what counts.”

Although his teammate fell short of clinching the top spot on the podium, with Wout van Aert emerging victorious, the situation could be different this Sunday. “Honestly, I think Mathieu does have the mental advantage. I think if they had ridden full-on at the Oude Kwaremont, Wout would have been off. But a lot can still change.”

The trio will undoubtedly be the centre of attention, with everyone eagerly anticipating who will be the first to reach the finish line.“Initially there may be a group in front, but at the centre of gravity of the race, the last time Oude Kwaremont-Paterberg, those three will stand out,” concluded Vermeersch.