Spring is over and there is plenty of time to look back. A recurring question is mainly: Who was the man of the spring? Van der Poel or Pogacar. Jan Bakelants saw it slightly differently.
Philipsen
Because of course they also asked that question at Cycling Club Wattage. The question first went to Dirk De Wolf, who didn’t have to think long: “Mathieu van der Poel”, it sounded very convincing. “It is difficult to compare and it is neck and neck for me, I cannot choose,” Bakelants responded.
But don’t men like Jasper Philipsen and Matteo Jorgenson follow a step lower?, asked presenter Ruben Van Gucht, after which Bakelants managed to surprise somewhat. “At their level, if we make it relative and share the talent they received from mother nature, Philipsen may well be the man of the spring for me.”
Yet Van der Poel
Ultimately, however, the members of Cycling Club Wattage chose Van der Poel, but Philipsen was appointed Belgian of the spring. This is certainly justified with victories in Milan-Sanremo and Bruges-De Panne, and a new second place in Paris-Roubaix.
Tom Boonen wholeheartedly agreed with the choice of ‘De Vlam van Ham’. “Merlier has the most victories, but Philipsen won Milan-San Remo and came second in Paris-Roubaix. He drove a ‘chips’ of a spring.”
However, Boonen in general – and he was certainly not alone in this – remained somewhat hungry in recent weeks. “We missed excitement. These are incredible achievements by those men, but there have been few great matches among the men this spring. We have seen boring races,” he concluded.
