Video | Mathieu van der Poel at the start: "I'd love to win but it's not that easy"

It is a very special day for Mathieu van der Poel. Over the last few months it has been a scenario that had been somewhat brushed aside due to his late start to the training season, but it is the day of the Tour des Flandres and the Dutchman comes as one of the big favourites after just having won Dwars door Vlaanderen.

"It's a day I look forward too, it's starting to be one of my favourite races. The race suits me pretty well, so I'm happy that the crowds are back and it's nice weather today so I'm looking forward to it," van der Poel told CyclingPro before the start of the race. "I'd love to win but it's not that easy. Last year showed it and yeah it's always difficult, it's a strange race in the end,"

Supported by the likes of Michael Gogl, Gianni Vermeersch and Xandro Meurisse in the bergs, Alpecin have a team to support the Dutchman, however he is expected to be by himself when things kick off between the big favourites.

Asked about the absence of Wout van Aert in the race, van der Poel responded: "I have raced with him a lot and I think we always had a good understanding during the race, it's easier with him and without him. It would have been tough to beat him but we'll see how the race develops... It [race] will change a bit for sure. Normally he would be one of the top guys in front and also for Jumbo he was their leading men so it'll change a bit their racing."

"I hope I'm today 100%, I felt a bit at Coppi e Bartali in the legs [at Dwars door Vlaanderen], I was already good of course though otherwise I wouldn't win the race, but I hope to be a little better today," he concluded.