Oscar Riesebeek sees his Alpecin-Deceuninck team out of the spotlight at Strade Bianche: "We are not the favorite here, a podium place would be ambitious"

Oscar Riesebeek entered his fifth season with Alpecin-Deceuninck last weekend at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. During the time, the 31-year-old Dutchman has become one of the team's very valuable teammates, often being selected for some of the world's biggest races. In de Leiderstrui spoke with Riesebeek before Saturday's Strade Bianche where he could get more of a free role.

Riesebeek finished deep in the field on his season debut, which doesn't really seem to worry him. "The first race is always a bit of a trial run. The general feeling was good, but the race was broken up quite early. If you're not up to speed the first time... Luckily we had three people at the front. I was still behind a fall. That can happen, I feel good and I assume that the form will improve in the coming weeks. It was a great start."

Without Mathieu van der Poel on the roster, the Belgian team can only surprise on the dusty roads around Sienna. "We have quite a few free riders across the board, with Quinten Hermans, Gianni Vermeersch and Michael Gogl, who has already finished in the top ten here. Those are the main three spearheads, although you have to see that in perspective. We don't have an equal to Pogacar, Pidcock or Mohoric, and that's okay. You have to remain realistic, we are not the favorite here, a podium place would be ambitious."

Riesebeek doesn't make big secrets regarding his racing programme after the Strade Bianche."I'm riding Tirreno-Adriatico, GP Denain, the E3 Saxo Classic and that's what's on offer for now. In the Ardennes I should ride the Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. It's slightly different from last year, when I didn't do the Walloon classics."