Tiesj Benoot looking to return Jumbo-Visma's classics dominance: "Now we are going to make an analysis of what could be improved"

Jumbo-Visma had the numbers but couldn't use them at the Tour of Flanders. The absence of Dylan van Baarle was notable, but Tiesj Benoot admitted a tactical error that might've cost the team dearly, as the Dutch team now resume their plans to conquer a cobbled monument.

As Kasper Asgreen attacked the race with over 100 kilometers to go and drove away a large quality group, Jumbo-Visma were represented by Nathan van Hooydonck. "I think Nathan was the right man when they drove away. However, at the Berendries I should have always been with Benoit Cosnefroy and Matteo Jorgenson, that is a mistake. If I'm with them, it's a different situation up front," Benoot looked back at the events. The Dutch team had a rider in front but van Hooydonck was not a viable option to beat the many stars that led the race. It's a strategy that could've benefited the team, but Tadej Pogacar's climbing prowess prevented this.

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"Then we will be two in the front and that would be more support for Wout," he continued. However Benoot, Laporte and van Aert stayed in the peloton. When Tadej Pogacar attacked at the Oude Kwaremont Benoot was dropped and effectively not able to help his teammates, whilst Christophe Laporte was dropped at the Koppenberg and went down the same path. As was the case in the E3 Saxo Classic van Aert was left alone against Pogacar and van der Poel, and that cost him as he was then dropped.

“I was a bit too far on the second climb of the Oude Kwaremont. I wasn't even that far behind Wout, but those men already rode away with about five guys. I wasn't with that, so then I was behind it with riders who were already quite tired," he explained.

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Looking back it was a bad situation, as in the end Benoot showed tremendous form and rode past Laporte and Pidcock themselves who had responded initially to the big favourites. He was in fact the 4th best rider on the day that was not present in the early attack only behind the trio of favourites, but his bullets were spent at a point where he couldn't serve the team's goals, and ended up finishing 13th on the day.

"I wasn't able to ride away from it until the last time at Kwaremont, but the calf had already drowned by then," he added, disappointed. "It's a pity to finish fourth (with Wout van Aert, ed.), but we fought for it. Now we are going to make an analysis of what could be improved." Benoot is unlikely to take part in Paris-Roubaix, as he now puts his attention to the Ardennes classics.

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