Philippe Gilbert backing Tom Pidcock at the Tour of Flanders: "He's able to beat Van Aert in the sprint"

With Strade Bianche winner Tom Pidcock returning to action from a concussion induced break at Dwars door Vlaanderen, Phillipe Gilbert believes he could be the rider to best challenge the "three kings" of cycling at the Tour of Flanders.

So far this year, Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar have been going toe to toe and giving fans some of the best racing seen in years. As the trio look set to collide yet again at the Tour of Flanders, four time Amstel Gold Race winner Phillipe Gilbert, has pointed out that it would be foolish to rule out INEOS Grenadiers' Pidcock.

"I would add Pidcock alongside those three as a contender because he's able to ride fast alone, is quite fast in a sprint even despite being really lightweight," Gilbert explains to Reuters. "He's able to beat Van Aert in the sprint so this has to give him confidence."

"If I was him I would just have always eyes on the three of them and react to them and not go first," he continues. "Let them work, they are the favourites, they are the three big names and they have to make the race and they know that so he can take advantage of that. I think he's smart enough."