"We rode the perfect race, but unfortunately one was stronger" - Gianni Vermeersch backs up Mathieu van der Poel despite Gent - Wevelgem defeat

Gent - Wevelgem saw another very strong Mathieu van der Poel, but this time around one who was overpowered by Lidl-Trek's numbers and tactics. The World Champion had to settle for second but teammate Gianni Vermeersch says the team has no regrets for the way it raced.

“Man against man, Pedersen is someone who is difficult to beat. We did our best and rode on the offensive all day. I think we rode the perfect race, but unfortunately one was stronger," Vermeersch told Wielerflits in a post-race interview. “After such a race it would have been very punishing if he had won two races in a row here. It makes sense that he was a bit fed up with it at the end. I think Mathieu had a good weekend, looking forward to next week.”

After a raced that was blown up in the crosswinds, van der Poel lit it up in the first crossing of the Kemmelberg. However Lidl-Trek had two riders following and Jonathan Milan soon after attacked off the front. Large kilometers in the front of the group working whilst Mads Pedersen could stay in the wheel proved crucial as the Dutchman was nowhere close to having the legs to drop the Dane uphill, but also did not have them to match Pedersen's sprint.

"If it were to come together again, the plan was to draw Jasper's card. But with Mathieu at the front, that was not the intention," Vermeersch says. With favourable weather conditions the attackers had an edge over the peloton today. The peloton still did feature a few sprinters, Jasper Philipsen from the team sprinted to fourth on the day behind Jordi Meeus in the peloton.

Hence after Wout van Aert showed great legs at the E3 Saxo Classic, Mads Pedersen very much enters the run for a strong victory candidate for Flanders itself as he's shown the legs uphill and the form necessary to take such a win.

“But I think it was already there. If you look at his season. And in other years he was also on the podium of the Tour. I don't think this is a surprise," Vermeersch argues, well aware that the American team will be dangerous this upcoming Sunday alongside Team Visma | Lease a Bike.