What the stars said after a paved collision – VeloNews.com

What the stars said after a paved collision – VeloNews.com

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The tour of Flanders this weekend was breathtaking as always.

From the abrasive weakening of Deceuninck-Quick-Step’s power play to the last snail festival between Kasper Asgreen, Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, the paved monument lived more than the hype before the race.

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Asgreen surpassed the favorites and stole the show Sunday, but what do the other stars say after the paved clash? Here is what:

Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick-Step): 42nd

Julian Alaphilippe was active during the last hours of the race and attacked over the second ascent of the Oude Kwaremont and worked with Asgreen to increase the pressure on Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. The Frenchman struggled in the final choice to blow off the wheels when Asgreen attacked to pull from Aert and van der Poel at 27 km.

After the race as one of the best favorites, Alaphilippe finished 42nd, 2:35. His next race is Liège-Bastogne-Liège at the end of this month.

“We drove very well and accepted our responsibility. We were well represented in the final, “said the world champion. “Kasper was one of our strong guys. He drove perfectly. It was a beautiful victory, he deserves it. He’s a wonderful man, a machine. This is not the last race he has won.

‘I was happy to accompany him a bit in the final. I tried something at the Kruisberg, but saw that it would be complicated for me. Unfortunately I cracked the last few miles. My legs swelled up. I cramped everywhere.

‘I tried to support Kasper as best I could and try to stay with the group as long as possible. I also still have the races in the Ardennes going on. Now I have to recover. It’s been a long day. ‘

Patrick Lefevere (Deceuninck-Quick-Step manager)

Veteran manager Patrick Lefevere watched his team achieve its fourth classic of the year, and Kasper Asgreen’s second in just nine days. Lefevere is currently determining the future of his team as he works to renew sponsorship agreements and expand the deals with his riders, many of whom are out of contract by the end of 2021.

“On the one hand I am very satisfied, on the other hand I was finalizing Kasper’s new contract this week. I think it will cost me a little more now. Well, that’s part of the game, of course.

‘It’s no surprise that Kasper won today. It came. Two years ago Kasper was already 2nd in the Round of Flanders, last year he also participated [finishing 13th] and this year he won the E3 Saxo Bank Classic in a magnificent way.

‘This week we talked about his sprint with him. He feels a little offensive – he says, ‘you think I can not sprint, but I can. I have already won races in the sprint. “He is convinced of his qualities and makes it happen. He loves cycling. He is a very calm guy and knows very well what he is doing and brings a lot of sacrifices for his sport – he has not been home since Milan-Sanremo. “

Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe): 15th

Peter Sagan was no longer in the rose for much of the day when he claimed a second victory over Flanders. After having to reschedule his early season after an attack on coronavirus and a long period in quarantine, the Slovak started returning just in the weeks before De Ronde.

Sagan missed the decisive moves when Mathieu van der Poel and Deceuninck-Quick-Step made a series of attacks through the last 60km, but made their way to the second chase group to finish 15th, 2:15 back. He will now cool off his planes ahead of the Giro d’Italia next month.

“The tour from Flanders was, as expected, very hard and fast. We had a strong group and I want to thank them for their work, but alas, when the decisive attacks came, my current form was just not enough to respond and follow it. I need to keep working to reach the level I had before I became infected with COVID. ”

Greg Van Avermaet (Ag2r-Citroën): 3rd

Greg Van Avermaet rode a mean race, kept his golden helmet under and saved his bullets for when he needed them most.

The Ag2r-Citroën captain has used the experience of the Ag2r-Citroën 14 times in his long pursuit of a victory in his home monument. “Golden Greg” beat the chasing group three kilometers ahead and averted a challenge from Jasper Stuyven to achieve third place.

Van Avermaet’s podium finish was his best result in Flanders since finishing second in 2017. It’s also the highlight of a steady – if not so fast – that saw him in the top 20 of every classic except Omloop Het Nieuwsblad at the end of February.

‘I’m really happy to be back on stage after a few years in a race I love so much. I will try again, but it does not get any easier.

‘I was on stage a few times with a sad face because I thought more was possible. But this time I was already smiling behind my mask. I got the most out of it, and more than third place was not possible. I’m satisfied.

‘I was good, but I did not have the legs to go with Mathieu, Wout or Alaphilippe, so I had to do it at my own pace. There were definitely more than three riders stronger than me. With my experience and course knowledge, I knew I had to try to stay in the group. If some of the others were to bounce, my chances would increase and maybe a podium would be possible. ‘

Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo): 4th

Like Greg Van Avermaet, Jasper Stuyven was unable to equal the key gears through the last mountain Sunday. The Trek-Segafredo captain nevertheless struggled through the last hour to end up in the chase group after Kasper Asgreen and Mathieu van der Poel drove clean.

Stuyven was the first to respond to Van Avermaet’s step in the race for the podium, but faded when his veteran rival went the last leg to the line in Oudenaarde. After winning Milan-Sanremo in March, Stuyven has enjoyed one of his best classic campaigns to date, and will now take a breather before focusing on the Ardennes again.

‘I did not respond immediately [to Van Avermaet] and then thought, okay, let’s go. I mean, I felt it would be super hard, and even when he took over from me, I could feel that there was a difference in power. In the sprint I tried, but it was pretty clear that I no longer had the legs for third place.

‘I think it’s nice to finally get a fourth place. In Flanders it is my best result, and it is not so bad to be first and fourth in the first two monuments of the season. I must be happy; Of course, I wish I could finish it off with a podium, but that’s how it is. ‘

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