Matej Mohoric finds difficult challenge at Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne: "The level is better every year"

On the results sheet Matej Mohoric shows little signs of form during the Opening Weekend, however on the road that is not quite the case. The Slovenian has been very active this weekend, but has not been able to match the viciousness of Team Visma | Lease a Bike.

"Jumbo took it up on the first French climb and I was too far back on the big road going into that, but then I moved up. But I used some energy to get in the front. I hung on on the first and second climb, but then when it exploded on Saint Laurent on the cobbles, I couldn't go with the first four," Mohoric said in a post-race interview. Mohoric then set off in pursuit with Matteo Jorgenson, but they began already a minute behind and could not chase down the front group that had gone up the road a few kilometers earlier.

"I tried to take a group away with an attack before Hotond. It was me and Matteo who went clear, if I had great legs today probably I would've been able to stay away but with these legs it was not possible today," he admits. "I think I will be ready for the rest of the classics." A warm-up for the monuments, Mohoric is not too concerned over not having his best level today. The former winner of Milano-Sanremo is hoping to peak between that race and Paris-Roubaix.

"It's more or less what we expected. I was quite confident before the race, but during the race there are the others also. The level is better every year and it's good, I'm confident that I will be there when it matters we'll see how it goes," he concluded. Mohoric will race Strade Bianche next week where he will be a favourite - as the reigning Gravel World Champion - and will then take some rest before tackling the entire spring classics block.