"Van der Poel will sprint for second place" - Experts doubt world champion can contend with Tadej Pogacar at Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Five race days under his belt this season and two monument wins already, Mathieu van der Poel will soon turn his attention to the next monument on the calendar, Liège-Bastogne-Liège. With Tadej Pogacar also set to start in Belgium, it's sure to be must watch.

What are the chances of van der Poel being able to live with Pogacar though? Well according to the winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège back in 1992, the best the world champion can hope for is second place. "He will be there in Liège, but as second fiddle," the 63-year-old Belgian states firmly on the cycling talk show, Café Koers.

"Next week in the Amstel Gold Race, he will be number one, but not the following week," De Wolf continues bluntly. "Van der Poel will sprint for second place like Quinten Hermans two years ago. One and a half minutes from Pogacar."

Just why is De Wolf so sure though? "If Pogacar rides full throttle from bottom to top on La Redoute or Roche-aux-Faucons, Mathieu is one minute behind at the top. Simple," he explains. "Pogacar is now preparing perfectly. Mathieu is in a state of euphoria. He will demonstrate again next week for hundreds of thousands of fellow countrymen."