"We want to get to the front with several pawns" - Marc Hirschi about UAE Team Emirates' strategy for Tour of Flanders

Despite his great palmares from cobbled races, which include tenth place from 2019 E3 Saxo Classic, it took nearly five years for Marc Hirschi to find his way back. On Sunday, the Swiss champion will debut at Tour of Flanders and as team UAE Team Emirates doesn't bring Tadej Pogacar, he can seek out his own chances too.

"These are very nice races, but also dangerous. Unfortunately, you can easily fall there, we have seen that again. That's the shitty aspect of it, but they're still great races," Hirschi told In de Leiderstrui.

"In the E3 Saxo Classic I fell with Tiesj Benoot and a rider from EF Education-EasyPost. He slipped and I and Tiesj had nowhere to go. My race was over there, but luckily things are going well considering the circumstances. I have some injuries, but overall I'm okay."

Without defending champion Tadej Pogacar, UAE Team Emirates will lack a clear leader. "We want to play it like in the last races. This means that we want to get to the front with several pawns, so that we can play our cards and protect each other's attacks. With myself, Tim Wellens, Nils Politt and also Mikkel Bjerg, I believe it is possible. That is the way for us to create a good situation."