For the upcoming
Milano-Sanremo, Bakelants confidently predicts, "Wout Van Aert is the number 1 favorite.” But who does the 37-year-old Belgian think could rival his younger compatriot for the title on the 18th of March?
"When we doubt Van der Poel, he always finds his best legs. Let's remember the Cyclo-Cross World Championship which he brilliantly won just last month," Bakelants says. "Alaphilippe is in good shape. He finished 2nd in stage 4 behind Roglic (at
Tirreno-Adriatico). Girmay didn't totally convince me on Tirreno. Jasper Philipsen would have been a super favorite a few years ago, but the teams have changed their way of riding."