"You're not going to beat him by riding just as hard..." - Laurens Ten Dam questions Florian Vermeersch's tactics against Mathieu van der Poel

UAE Team Emirates - XRG played their cards right to decimate the peloton at the recent Omloop het Nieuwsblad and launched the in-form Florian Vermeersch towards an impressive ride and place on the final podium. However, many questioned and even criticized the Belgian's decision to work with Mathieu van der Poel. Former pro rider Laurens Ten Dam has shared his insight on the matter.

"He's forcing the move on the Molenberg himself and probably doesn't know that Van der Poel was dropped in that crash. Maybe that's why he thought he was just as good as Mathieu," Ten Dam said in the Live Slow Ride Fast podcast.

The duo collaborated throughout the final hour of racing until the Mur de Geraardsbergen, when the Alpecin-Premier Tech rider went solo off the front. Whilst being a predictable scenario, this being van der Poel's first race of the season could've changed the outcome in comparison to the already in-form Vermeersch.

However, once van der Poel responded to Vermeerch's attack - as did Tim van Dijke - it became clear his form was on point. "You're not going to beat him by riding just as hard at the front, of course; it's Mathieu van der Poel," then argues.

"And I understand that people appreciate him riding along like that and want to see who's the strongest, but that's not how cycling works. Sometimes you have to finish someone else's plate before you start on your own."

The Dutchman's statements lift up once again the debate on when to work - or not - with the likes of van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar, who frequently dominate races, yet get collaboration from rivals who stand little chance of beating them.

A position on the podium is worth a lot however, specially for a rider like Vermeersch who has Tadej Pogacar as a teammate, hence limiting his chances in the spring classics quite a lot. However, we did not see the same course of action from Tim van Dijke, who sat on the wheel of the duo, and then sprinted to second at the end of the race.

But this was not without its consequences. Even if minor, van der Poel did not look to greet his compatriot at the finish line. "You can see afterward that Van der Poel just lets Tim van Dijke keep riding and waits for Vermeersch to give him a hug," Ten Dam points out.

"He obviously hopes that next time, if the Belgian is in his good graces, he'll do the same; that's nice for Van der Poel too." In the long-run, perhaps Vermeersch will be able to benefit from this weekend's work alongside van der Poel. Van Dijke cannot say the same: "They're buddies (outside of racing, ed.). The fact that he goes to Vermeersch first says a lot about how Van der Poel feels about it".