Did Van der Poel have to ride with the faster Pedersen? 3 former world champions give their opinion

Should Mathieu van der Poel have played it more tactically in Gent-Wevelgem when he was on the road with the on paper faster Mads Pedersen? The world champion himself believes that he cannot afford not to ride in such a situation, because “noblesse oblige.” What do other world champions think about that?

First and foremost, Museeuw puts Mathieu van der Poel’s defeat in Ghent-Wevelgem into perspective.

“Mathieu was 2 percent less yesterday because the E3 was probably still in his legs.”

“If phenomena are slightly less good, then they are also just riders who can finish 2nd. There is nothing wrong with that.”

Does Museeuw think that Van der Poel should not have ridden with the intrinsically faster Pedersen?

“Van der Poel has become such a champion that he can no longer afford to say: “I’m not riding.”

“It wouldn’t have been nice for the race if he had not cooperated. Not to participate is not in Mathieu’s nature. Whether he is world champion or not, that doesn’t change anything.”

Mathieu will organize his final in the Tour differently due to his defeat in Wevelgem.

Johan Museeuw (world champion in 1996)

Museeuw thinks that Van der Poel will take that sprint defeat with him to the Tour of Flanders.

“It will change his mindset. If Van der Poel is still on the road with Pedersen and Van Aert in the deep final of the Tour, he will take into account what happened yesterday in the sprint.”

“Mathieu will therefore organize his final differently, so that he can start the sprint fresher in Oudenaarde.”

Tom Boonen also thought it was logical that Van der Poel would work with Pedersen.

“As world champion you have a certain responsibility to the cycling public. You have to advertise cycling. Then you have no choice but to participate in the race.”

“You still talk about Mathieu van der Poel,” Boonen refers to the fact that the Dutchman naturally likes to drive attractively.

“Okay, Philipsen was in the chasing peloton. But betting that Philipsen will win the peloton sprint after Gent-Wevelgem is just as risky as betting that Van der Poel will beat Pedersen in a sprint with two people. If you then attack, you have to drive on.”

It’s nice that we have seen that Mathieu will not simply win all races.

Tom Boonen, world champion in 2005

Boonen does not think the defeat against Pedersen will get into Van der Poel’s head. “Because Sunday will be a completely different race than Gent-Wevelgem.”

“But it is nice that we saw yesterday that it is not certain that Mathieu will simply win all races.”

Van der Poel has gained an ally since his defeat in Ghent-Wevelgem.

“Lidl-Trek may start to float a bit. They will make the race extra hard on Sunday because they rightly believe more in their chances of victory. And a hard race will benefit Van der Poel.”

The Italian Alessandro Ballan knows what it’s like to ride with the rainbow jersey on your shoulders.

“That jersey will not prevent you from participating in a leading group,” says the 2008 Varese world champion.

“Pedersen is of course not the first to come and is currently riding very strong. But if you ride to the finish with 2 strong riders, you get an open sprint. So Van der Poel was not without a chance.”

In that sprint, the world champion bowed his head. “I think his solo in the E3 cost Mathieu a lot of energy. If there is only 1 day between the E3 and Ghent-Wevelgem, then you are not at the start in your very best condition.”

In the Tour it is not about who is the fastest, but about the strength you still have in your legs.

Alessandro Ballan, world champion in 2008

Van der Poel gets 6 recovery days until the Tour. “If he is in a leading group with other top players again, he must and will participate again.”

“If Van der Poel wants to be assured of victory on Sunday, it is better to ride away solo. The Ronde is also more suitable for that than Gent-Wevelgem.”

And what if it comes to a sprint in Oudenaarde with, for example, Van der Poel, Pedersen and Van Aert?

“Then we will have a completely different sprint than in Ghent-Wevelgem because the Tour is still a lot harder. Then it is not about who is the fastest sprinter, but about the strength that the riders still have in their legs.”