"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
Cycling
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."
Jasper Philipsen the co-leader
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.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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- great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
- I think some are making much ado about nothing. Even though Jonas is getting older, before his crash in the Tour, he looked like a solid 2nd all the way home. No one can really climb with Tadej until this year, Eric Mas showed himself which I think was a one off year for him and Paul Seixas has been able to be pretty close to him. Whatever stage race Jonas enters as long as Tadej is not there he is a favorite to win.awp10-11-2026
- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
- Ciccone had a very strong end of season. Consistently attacking and livening up races. Hope he makes that last leap in progress and starts notching some significant wins. Great rider to watch.Occam10-11-2026
- Me too!!!!!Occam10-11-2026
- they can sign any 100 of top riders today but Pogi will win over Remco any time at the TDF unless something goes wrongabstractengineer10-11-2026
- the time for a GC rider to retire is when they cannot win stages, or have a significant level drop like from winner/podium into top 5/10 consistently. Roglic is still competitive and Froome raced even though he became pack fodder.abstractengineer10-11-2026
- He should be in a different team. It was detrimental. For them it does not matter if he does not develop. He should have gone to a team where they need him to succeed.abstractengineer10-11-2026
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