"It is always easy to race when the best riders are there" - Mathieu van der Poel hopes that van Aert and Stuyven's absence doesn't trigger surprises

Mathieu van der Poel arrived at the start of the Tour of Flanders this morning as the ultimate favourite but a race like this can always see the best of the best crack. The Dutchman hopes to have a day without big surprises and take his second win in the Flandrien classic.

“We are just going to try to control that race as best as possible and win," van der Poel said at the start of the race today. Brief words to Wielerflits, words that are expected from the man to beat on a day where surprises may happen. Although his main competitors have gone down at Dwars door Vlaanderen, the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider reaffirms that he would prefer a race without big surprises.

“I have said it before: it is always easy to race when the best riders are there, which does not mean that there are no good riders now. But you just know: with Wout van Aert and Jasper Stuyven, and with Mads Pedersen who is one hundred percent, that they will ride to the finish," he explains. "They believe they can win. But I expect an open battle today.”

Without Jasper Philipsen, van der Poel begins the race with the main support from riders such as Soren Kragh Andersen and Gianni Vermeersch. Alpecin will have more responsibility to control the race and it will be more important for van der Poel to choose his moments to attack as it will be harder to have someone work together with him.