"We have proven many times that our team is present enough when it matters" - Christoph Roodhooft insists Alpecin-Deceuninck are more than just Mathieu van der Poel's support
Cycling
Are Alpecin-Deceuninck the new 'Kings of the Classics'? Their performances so far in 2024 having been nearly without fault, taking both the first two monuments on offer through Jasper Philipsen (Milano-Sanremo) and Mathieu van der Poel (Tour of Flanders).
Prior to the classics season really getting underway however, the team were given some criticism as not being up to scratch to support van der Poel, something Alpecin-Deceuninck boss, Christoph Roodhooft hasn't quickly forgotten. “You currently have a battery of analysts and columnists in Flanders, and in the long run it will probably be difficult for those people to come up with an original approach, but I think it is a shame that our team was questioned so much in advance," Roodhooft said after the Tour of Flanders to WielerFlits.
Surmounting these expectations, Alpecin-Deceuninck were present at the front throughout both Milano-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders and as Roodhooft is keen to note, the team are far more than just a one man team.
“I don't really understand the idea,” Roodhooft answers. “If you see how many people we were there this year at the foot of the Poggio, I think: we have proven many times that our team is present enough when it matters. Of course we can play less chess than Visma | Lease a Bike or Lidl-Trek, we also know that, but if Mathieu is good, we have a leader that they do not have.”
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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The only three riders able to get up the Koppenberg 😮 Mathieu Van der Poel, Matteo Jorgenson and Mads Pedersen were the only ones at the front of the men's race to make it up the cobbled climb without being forced to walk or put a foot down 💪 📷 Getty Images
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