A second place for @mathieuvdpoel it is. "Of course I am a bit disappointed. But I have to admit that with @TamauPogi the strongest won the race. I can live with it." #RondeVanVlaanderen. Next: @parisroubaix, next Sunday! Photos: ©Photonews
Xandro Meurisse admits "that as a team, we were a little behind the facts" in Tour of Flanders
CyclingWednesday, 05 April 2023 at 07:00
Although Alpecin-Deceuninck did not achieve a sweeping victory in the Tour of Flanders, they also did not experience a crushing defeat. Despite some initial stumbling blocks, Mathieu van der Poel managed to secure second place behind Tadej Pogacar.
With van der Poel faltering early on in the race, his teammates had to rally together and put in a considerable amount of effort to ensure that he remained in the optimal position for achieving victory. This meant that riders like Søren Kragh Andersen, Maurice Ballerstedt, Michael Gogl, Silvan Dillier, and Xandro Meurisse had to work hard to support the Dutchman.
"I think that as a team, we were a little behind the facts, that's right," Meurisse told In de Leiderstrui. He continues, "It was a bit atypical. The wind was a bit on the side here and there, but they were driving ridiculously fast. There are always some holes, then it's a pity if Mathieu is just behind it. However, we have taken our responsibility to ride Mathieu in the final as well as possible. You can't call it bad.”
The dedication of Meurisse and his companions bore fruit as van der Poel was able to keep up with Pogacar in the last few kilometres of the race. Unfortunately, his journey to the finish line involved a crash which resulted in a scraped thigh. “Then Silvan Dillier took over from me towards Berg ten Houte, but unfortunately, I fell in the descent to the Kanarieberg. I then came back to try to do something towards the second climb of the Oude Kwaremont, but it went so fast. Then there is not much left, especially if you have just had a fall. None of that is conducive,” concluded Meurisse.
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