"Van der Poel and Pogacar are extreme athletes, so you really have to have a good plan to beat them" - Dylan van Baarle's coach confident he can be competitive in the classics

Soudal - Quick-Step is looking to reclaim its status as the kings of the cobblestones in 2026. To do so, they have not only signed one of the best classics riders in the world but also completely overhauled his preparation.

After a difficult season affected by crashes and inconsistent form, the Belgian team has hit the reset button on their new leader, Dylan van Baarle, aiming to bring him back to the level that saw him win Paris-Roubaix in 2022.

The team's performance staff has spent the winter analyzing exactly why the Dutchman struggled to find his best legs in recent years. According to Van Baarle’s new trainer at Soudal Quick-Step, Michel Geerinck, the strict, high-intensity structure at his previous team may have negatively affected his natural physiology. The solution has been a return to massive training hours at a lower intensity.

"We primarily went back through the history of Dylan as a rider," the coach explained in an interview to In de Leiderstrui. "Riders of that caliber, I like to call them V8 engines, need a lot of volume to function super. In recent years, he didn't have the feeling that this was worked out very well for him. We have picked up those large volumes at low intensity again."

The goal is to rebuild the engine that made him one of the most feared long-distance riders in the peloton. "We have him triggered in intensity again, to be able to ride finals... When I told my story, Dylan said that it fits very well with the story of his best years."

This new approach also involves a closer partnership with his teammate, Jasper Stuyven. Despite both riders living in Monaco for years, they rarely trained together. But that changed during the past offseason.

"I did consciously bring them into contact with each other a bit more," the trainer admitted. "They both live in Monaco, but actually never trained together. But now I see them growing towards each other. Then you cycle times two, right?"

Geerinck sees similarities between the two: "I see many similarities between Jasper and Dylan... Not being a half-climber, we let that go. He had to focus entirely on the classic work."

The team is realistic about the challenge posed by the two aliens, Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar. However, they believe that a top-form Van Baarle offers a tactical advantage. "Van der Poel and Pogacar are extreme athletes, so you really have to have a good plan to beat them," the coach conceded. "But give Van Baarle no 20 seconds, because then he is gone."

Recent physical tests suggest he is ready to make those moves stick. "Physically, the tests have already shown that he is back to his old top level. That is fantastic news for him and he draws confidence from that."

To ensure he is fresh for the Monuments, the team has designed a specific schedule. Unlike many of his rivals, Van Baarle will skip the major one-week stage races in March.

"Competition for the Opening Weekend is important, but it is true that we have discussed with the team managers that he will go to Andorra after the Opening Weekend," the trainer confirmed, noting he will miss Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico. "It gives him, in my feeling, a bit more rest towards the Flemish classics. Let's hope it all falls into place."