"I think I'll race a bit more defensively" - In-form Mathieu van der Poel not looking to repeat E3 Saco Classic antics in Wevelgem

Middelkerke - Wevelgem features a not-too-different profile from the E3 Saxo Classic, but the tactics certainly won't be the same in the Alpecin-Premier Tech camp. Mathieu van der Poel took a solo win after a long-range attack on Friday but this Sunday he's at the start in Middelkerke with a more conservativer approach.

Asked if he was planning on attacking from far again, the Dutchman responded: "That will be out of my system after Friday. I think I'll race a bit more defensively," van der Poel told Sporza this morning.

"I didn't exactly ride conservatively in the E3. I need to see how I've recovered," he argues. The 'mini Tour of Flanders' proved exhausting for the Dutchman who put in a storming ride through the climbs but above all the many flat roads. He was on his limit and was lucky over the chasing group's lack of collaboration at the end, which largely contributed towards his win.

Hence on Wevelgem, he does not want to spend energy in the same way. He starts as a co-leader alongside Jasper Philipsen but, after adding Omloop het Nieuwsblad to his palmarès, he would like to do the same here: "I would really love to do that, but something like that doesn't work out in every race."

Leadership will be shared and van der Poel may not work for the peloton to split on the climbs and gravel sectors. If the race seems like it could be heading towards a sprint, he would favour that scenario.

"We share the leadership. We both have a chance to win this race. It will become clear which card we play during or after the hilly section. It mainly depends on how I feel during the race. Jasper will normally always survive the selection in a small group, and there are other teams with a sprinter. It's possible we'll end up sprinting."

Philipsen joked about van der Poell's wattages at the E3 Saxo Classic, almost 450 watts for 90 minutes towards the end. "That is something I won't be able to achieve for a long time and probably never will," he laughed. "Very impressive."

However he does not need to. In order for Philipsen to take the win it will have to come down in a sprint, and he is far from the only rider to have that interest. The Belgian is preparing for this moment of the season and his form has recently been quite good.

"That's right, I've never been super successful here. It is always a difficult and grueling race. You have to keep something in reserve here for the finale," he concluded.