"I think I have to finish alone" - Tadej Pogacar under pressure to attack Tour of Flanders

Tadej Pogacar is ready for the Tour of Flanders. After a strong preparation and virtually ideal run-up to the Belgian race, the UAE Team Emirates rider will start the second monument of the season with ambitions of taking a win but he acknowledges he may have to cross the line by himself to do so.

This Friday Pogacar rode in Flanders, doing a recon of the day's most important kilometers. "That's important, because I'm not that familiar with all these roads yet," he told Sporza. "I have to have my best legs and I think I have to finish alone. That's crucial. That is very difficult, but if you pick the right time, it might be possible. I can't just focus on them though. That would be a mistake.”

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At the E3 Saxo Classic this became clear. As was the case in last year's Ronde, the Slovenian was the main attacker of the day, successfully dropping most of the competition, except two riders... At E3 he couldn't leave behind Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel - who then had a much superior sprint to the line. Flandres is longer and harder, but the expectations are that a similar situation may happen.

He's mentioned in the press conference that he will try to wear down the two other big favourites. This Friday he was seen walking up a slippery Koppenberg, where he attacked last year. “That climb suits me more than the Paterberg, because it is too short for me," he said of it, as a potential attacking plan, however he added that "I cannot limit myself to a plan, because a lot can happen in a race of 6 hours on such a course. And the legs decide. I already feel good.”