"Growing up it was my favourite race" - Kasper Asgreen ready to aide Soudal Quick-Step's quest for Tour of Flanders glory

Although perhaps not entering the Tour of Flanders as one of the pre-race favourites they normally are, Soudal - Quick-Step cannot be ruled out. Key to their chances will be Kasper Asgreen, the 2021 race winner.

"Flanders is a special race not just for the Flemish people, but for the whole cycling world. Growing up it was my favourite race, the one I never missed on TV," says a reminiscent Asgreen to Quick-Step's official website. "It’s something special about the course – how hard it is and how it makes for some aggressive and spectacular racing. All this has a certain appeal to riders and fans."

Asgreen's victory in 2021 where he edged out Mathieu van der Poel for the win, means that although alongside Julian Alaphilippe, Soudal Quick-Step can pose a significant threat to the pre-race favourites if they play their cards right. "I am confident, even if there’s a difference between where I am now and where I was last year or two years ago, when I won."

"It’s important to believe in it and don’t let it get into our heads that we don’t have the same strength as in the past," Asgreen declares. "I don’t see why we shouldn’t be able to do it. We know that others are favourites, but this shouldn’t distract us, as we just need to focus on our race. There is always pressure, but that isn’t something new in such a prestigious race. At the end of the day, Flanders has no secrets. Anything can happen."