Mathieu van der Poel was the only challenger of Tadej Pogacar at
Tour of Flanders, but even he had to surrender when Slovenian accelerated on the last time Oude Kwaremont. It's the Dutchman's first defeat in a one-day race this season and compatriot
Sep Vanmarcke thinks Van der Poel's hunger for victories caught up to him.
Vanmarcke saw the first signs of Van der Poel's illness coming at last week's
E3 Saxo Classic. The former pro saw the winner shivering from the cold during the ceremonies after the race. Vanmarcke in the podcast Café Koers: "Everyone saw that formidable solo in Harelbeke, but everyone also saw that it was raining. I then saw him really suffering from the cold at the podium."