"I haven’t had the chance to prove that yet" - Julian Alaphilippe unsure if he can match van Aert, van der Poel and Pogacar at Tour of Flanders

It's been a very hard spring for Soudal - Quick-Step. Besides the pressure coming from above, within the riders that pressure is being felt and disappointment is present. Julian Alaphilippe was expecting to be a big hitter for the Tour of Flanders but days away from it he's not shown he's at the level to contest it.

“We’re trying to stay calm, it’s normal that we’re disappointed in QuickStep because everybody’s so deeply invested in this period, including the staff," Alaphilippe said in an interview with L'Équipe. “Lots of our riders have really prepared for this segment of the season, and when you see that some of our rivals are dominating like that, of course, it’s disappointing. But we have to keep calm, be patient, keep on doing what we’ve always done. Self-pity isn’t any use. And in fact, I find these situations can make me feel even more motivated.”

The Belgian team used to be dominant in the cobbled classics, but not anymore. Jumbo-Visma have taken up the role and have not missed a single opportunity within the main classics of the spring so far. Meanwhile Quick-Step have struggled to be in contention for the same races. Kasper Asgreen has been far from his best form, Yves Lampaert and Florian Sénéchal have showed themselves but not in the cobbles, Merlier and Jakobsen have been on good form but have not scored a big result in the main classics and Alaphilippe is not too different.

At Tirreno-Adriatico signs were good as he showed his best form in over a year. In Milano-Sanremo a crash derailed his plans. “I had great legs at Sanremo but well - bad timing, bad positioning, some mistakes by the team, and voila. I didn’t give up, but I was disappointed to tackle the Poggio like I did. I’ve never been so badly placed as when I started it this year," he admits.

Now in Flanders. In 2020 he rode with van der Poel and van Aert after the main climbs of the day, but was taken out of contention as he collided with a race motorbike. His talent has been proven in such races, but this spring he doesn't seem to be in the same place. He abandoned the E3 Saxo Classic with health issues, and in Dwars door Vlaanderen he finished 29th. Mostly due to his work for Davide Ballerini, but he missed out on the decisive attacks.

Now almost on the eve of the big goal, he doubts that he can match the duo and Tadej Pogacar over the upcoming Sunday. “I don’t know, I haven’t had the chance to prove that yet," he tells. "As I haven’t been capable so far, I’m obliged to say ‘No’, but on the other hand, I don’t know how these coming weeks will play out. What’s certain is that they are at an exceptional level, right now.”

Regarding Pogacar, who is expected to be the main attacker at the Tour of Flanders this Sunday, Alaphilippe commented: “I’d have to be on a very good day to be able to follow him. He’s a game-changer. I’m not.”