Mathieu van der Poel prepares for Tour of Flanders in Spain - "The final has been the same for several years, so an exploration is not really necessary"

The Tour of Flanders is just around the corner. Different riders have different ways of preparing for the climax of Flandrien races, and Mathieu van der Poel's isn't exactly by staying there. The Dutchman has been training in Spain this week, seizing the good weather before returning to Belgium right before the race.

“A reconnaissance is therefore not planned," Alpecin-Deceuninck told Het Nieuwsblad. "The final has been the same for several years, so an exploration is not really necessary. It is possible that some riders will train individually on the course.”

Last week has seen grim weather affect the Belgian classics. The E3 Saxo Bank and Classic Brugge-De Panne were heavily affected by the wind, whilst Gent-Wevelgem was ridden under rainy, windy and cold conditions. Weather that may be faced in the big day this Sunday, but something which many look to avoid.

Whether it will be beneficial or not remains to be seen, but van der Poel has travelled back to Spain in the days leading up to De Ronde. As he has in recent years, the good weather has motivated him to ride into Southern Europe until close to his big objectives.