"You will certainly not hear me say that I am the new Wout or Mathieu” - Quinten Hermans hopes to emulate the cross discipline success of his rivals

With competition from within at Alpecin-Deceunick with the likes of Jasper Philipsen, Mathieu van der Poel and Søren Kragh Andersen, Quinten Hermans has his work cut out to make an impression but he is a keenly determined individual.

“I may not be the outspoken leader for the hilly classics, but I am certainly one of them,” a quietly confident Hermans told WielerFlits. “I have to conclude that nowadays I am more of a cyclist than a cyclo-cross rider. Crossing is starting to go out a bit. I also notice that physically: in your heartbeat, in the acceleration after the corners. I think it's a shame, because I like to cross very much. During the Christmas period I went to the cross eight times with a smile on my face. I really enjoy that.”

So where does Hermans see his big chance coming this spring? “I am still cautious about the Amstel Gold Race, because you never know with Mathieu,” Hermans reveals. “But for La Flèche Wallonne and Liège I will normally be the leader. Come on, if the form is of course on point and I deserve that role.”

“Although I also know that for such a performance in Liège, several things have to fall into place. You will certainly not hear me say that I am the new Wout, Mathieu, Sergio Higuita," he continues. "They know that in the team. But I will work towards the Ardennes classics as best I can. I now know that I can get on the podium in those races. And that is worth repeating, for sure.”