‘Twas a slow burn this year in Flanders. With over 100km to go the early main breakaway of the day and the peloton ten minutes behind began hitting the first of the cobbled bergs. The gap to the breakaway quickly began to plummet with the typical sprints among the peloton to be at the front into each climb. With 70km to go, the gap was down to 3:00, but there still wasn’t much action happening in the peloton. It must be said too, just as in 2020, the lockdowns really hurt this race perhaps most of all. I cannot name a race where the fans help more “make” the day. Perhaps had the fans been lining every climb exhorting the riders, Madman Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) in his Dutch Champion’s jersey would have been more likely to attack. But alas! Van Der Poel wore his black shorts—a sign of conservative maturity versus the audacious white pair he seems to only wear when he completely lights up a race in reckless and Madman fashion. Another sorry loss this year was no Muur-Kapelmuur climb, O! how I eagerly watched with 120km to go through to the 80km point and only then finally notice I was looking at the wrong profile of the day and this year’s route went nowhere close to Geraardsbergen. Finally, we began to sit up with 54km to go as the peloton crested the Oude Kwaremont for the second time of asking. It was there that Mathieu Van Der Poel put in attack and the only one who could match the ferocity was Elegant-Quickstep’s Champion of Denmark Casper Asgreen, the E3 winner—the Flanders dress rehearsal nine days ago.
Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), the other Mighty Ace and archrival of Mathieu Van Der Poel chased down and neturalized the attack before the twisting decent down to the bottom of the Paterberg. But over the Paterberg once again it was Van Der Poel and Asgreen who were the strongest, and even Mighty Ace Wout Van Aert was only best of the rest. The two strongest ones, Van Der Poel and Asgreen, were brought back again. And as is always the case in the cobbled races: attacks were launched and brought back, pairs or trios or quartets got some gaps, but soon after they were brought back and larger groups reformed. It would be tedious business to record them all. But truly it must be said, and it was great to see: Elegant-Quickstep’s Julian Alaphilippe the Musketeer and Champion of the World wearing his beautiful Rainbow Jersey leading the race almost solo over the top of the Koppenberg climb, notoriously known with its 22% maximum gradient as the hardest and most dreadful climb of the race. But even the beloved Musketeer was brought back into the fold, and it was with 37km to go on the Taaienberg the first major selection was made.
Elegant-Quickstep’s strong man Casper Asgreen set the pace up the Taaienberg—O! on what a good day was this Asgreen—both the Mighty Aces struggled to stay even with him up the climb, but they did and so did Quickstep teammate Alaphilippe the Musketeer. Bahrain’s Marco Haller was caught from an earlier attack still up the road, and at the very crest of the climb Bahrain teammate Dylan Tuens had made this a select group of six. Four of the prerace favorites: the two Mighty Aces and two Quickstep Wolves, and two Bahrain underdogs. The six worked well together rotating turns almost evenly, albeit in such company less was expected and received from the two Bahrain riders. There was about a group of 20 or so remaining favorites that chased fairly well together some dozen to twenty seconds behind; and this was the status quo for next 10km even over the Cobbled Kruisberg. Notably, the up-and-coming Anthony Turgis (Total Direct-Energie) up and after the Kruisberg was able to bridge solo to this elite group of six. Then finally with 27km to go, though only two Wolves were here with both the Mighty Aces, it was time for the Wolfpack to go on the hunt. Casper Asgreen the Champion of Denmark with his Red Jersey with White Cross launched an attack in a bid to be the Lone Wolf out front just as he was at E3 over a week ago. He attacked hard, but both the Mighty Aces stayed with him while the others could not. The other Wolf in the group, Musketeer World Champion Alaphilippe wasn’t going to drag others up to his attacking teammate, Turgis had just completed a difficult bridging effort, and both the Bahrains were on their limit. Thus in reality, Asgreen’s Lone Wolf attack actually destroyed the Wolfpack’s numerical advantage.
Thus it was with 20km to go, into the Oude Kwaremont for the third and last time of the asking, the Mighty Aces Mathieu Van Der Poel and Wout Van Aert were in the lead of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen once more just as last year…besides that this year the Elegant-Quickstep Wolfpack—the finest Classics team in all the world—had a representative as well, Casper Asgreen the Champion of Denmark. Strangely, this day had been a quiet affair for the Wolfpack, only Asgreen and Alaphilippe had been seriously mixing it up within the peloton to represent the Pack. Based on the groups and formations of the race, it seemed unlikely Alaphilippe would be able to get back in contact with the leading trio, thus the question was popping into all the viewers heads: how can Asgreen possibly outfox—sorry, out-wily-canine-connive—these two Mighty Aces? Surely, this would be the tallest of orders! And yet, the rest of the Wolfpack were now counting on Asgreen, their Alpha of the day to bring the spoils of victory back to the Den for dinner. Onto the Oude Kwaremont they went, 26 seconds behind Alaphilippe with Turgis and the two Bahrains were absorbed back into a 20-man group of other chasing favorites. This last time up the Kwaremont and then straight into the Paterberg a couple K’s later was the Finale of climbing for the race. All three in the leading trio shared the pacing up the famous Kwaremont. But as the Kwaremont was almost done-and-dusted, as the cobbles were about to come to an end and all the elevation of the climb would be gained, while Mighty Ace Wout Van Aert was doing his turn on the front for the trio Mathieu Van Der Poel the Madman wearing his Dutch Champion’s Jersey launched one of his Rocketman attacks of Strade Bianche fame. Yes, just one week ago, Wout Van Aert won an excellently ridden Gent-Wevelgem and in the prerace interviews for this Ronde he said he felt like two million bucks, meanwhile four days ago on the Wednesday Mathieu Van Der Poel had turned up a dud of a Dwars Door Vlaanderen and it created many skeptics that his top form was dwindling. But the sluggish Dwars performance was surely shaken off and expelled from our minds with this attack, because Van Der Poel solidly distanced archrival Van Aert. In his defense, Van Aert was working on the front when Van Der Poel attacked, but within the span of 45 seconds, Van Der Poel had almost 100m on Van Aert. And what of the Wolfpack’s last hope? Casper Asgreen, the Champion of Denmark, the Alpha of the Wolfpack this day could not match Van Der Poel’s ferocious explosivity, but he O! so valiantly clawed his way back to this Dutch Champion’s wheel to form a leading pair into the final climb of the day, the Paterberg.
Into the Paterberg, Van Der Poel and Asgreen, who had clearly been the strongest men of the match all day, had a 10-second gap on Wout Van Aert chasing solo behind. Up the Paterberg, Asgreen did not simply sit in Van Der Poel’s wheel, he asserted himself as the Alpha of the Wolfpack and the peloton and rode shoulder-to-shoulder with this Mighty Ace and prerace favorite and defending Ronde champion. Up they went, pedal-stroke for pedal-stroke up that 20% grade, behind solo, Mighty Ace Van Aert was on such a limit he needed to try the weaving across the road trick to get up that steep Paterberg. Ten seconds behind Van Aert were a group of ten or so remaining favorites. As all crested the climb, the pecking order of strength was clear. Van Der Poel and Asgreen were the strongest of the day, they completely earned their solo gap up front, Van Aert was the clear third on the day, and the rest left took up the role of Dark Horses for this Endgame. Yes, all the climbing was finished, but still 13km of racing remained and this was set for an intriguing endgame.
Here are some factors and variables to weigh up or keep in one’s mind. From a pair or trio, especially at very low speeds, Mathieu Van Der Poel is deadly good in a sprint: none can match his snapping accelerations either on small climbs or finishing sprints. Meanwhile, at a high pace already—surely from a group of ten or more—Van Aert might have the edge on him in a sprint, and in the past Van Aert has shown he can do a good Time Trial as well. Meanwhile at E3 and in the past, Asgreen has proven he is also one of the finest Time Triallists in the world. So with 12km to go, the leading pair of Van Der Poel and Asgreen had a 22-second gap on the solo Van Aert, and a 34-second gap on a group of 10 other favorites. On paper, what is the best strategy for all three men to win the race? What would you do in their positions? On paper with relaxing armchair clarity, here is what seemed best to me. Van Der Poel should keep this status quo, this situation played right into his hands: work with Asgreen for the two-up sprint and on paper Van Der Poel should dust him. Van Aert must hope the two up front do not work well together because Asgreen would know on paper Van Der Poel is likely to dust him in a sprint. When the two don’t work well together, Van Aert should have a chance to bridge up to them, but should the two work well Van Aert can then consider sitting up and working with the chasing group of 10 to bring it back for a dozen-up sprint. But what of Asgreen? The one in between a rock-and-a-hard-place for he has no notable sprinting exploits. Were he to not work with Van Der Poel, Van Aert and/or the group of 10 would catch them. Now Asgreen did have fast sprinting Wolfpack teammate Florian Senechal in that group, but it wasn’t at all sure fire Senechal would win such a sprint after such a hard race, and Asgreen himself who had proven the Alpha Wolf all day wanted to take his rightful shot at glory. Were Asgreen to work with Van Der Poel he was almost guaranteed at least second place and maybe he could play some trick in the Finale with some sort of late attack to shake Van Der Poel so that he could pull off the win. Yes, as said before this was all a very tall ask for Asgreen who had essentially been forced to put the team on his back for this Finale. With this chess-on-wheels scenario laid out, allow me to cut to the chase of what happened; it was an intense couple of kilometers at first to see where the pendulum would swing, but then it prematurely sorted itself out. Alpha Wolf Asgreen worked with Madman Van Der Poel to ensure at least a second place, behind Van Aert made no dent in the leading duo’s advantage. Eventually the group of 10 got within a handful of seconds of Van Aert, so the Mighty Ace sat up to join the fold of this group. There was still 11km left to race, and a gap of only 23 seconds, but after catching Van Aert the impetus of this group went out. Not all were rotating, Asgreen and Van Der Poel each had a teammate in the group and additionally many others were completely spent as well or trying to save something for a sprint if it came back together or just for the last podium spot itself. In fact, it seemed Van Aert, instead of just hoping this group brought back the leading pair, still had enough energy to rotate and work to eat up the advantage of the leading pair’s gap. But he did not have enough cohesion; and with 8km to go, surely Van Aert’s group of 10 was resigned to fighting for third place on the day.
Thus it was the win would come from the leading pair. Everything was falling into place for the Madman Mathieu Van Der Poel to win a two-up sprint at the Tour of Flanders for the second year in a row. How could Asgreen thwart Mathieu from pulling off the repeat? Surely, he must take advantage of his time-trialing superiority. But how? How could he get a gap for this final flat run in? Should he jump, surely Van Der Poel could cover the attack. But surely Asgreen needed to try some sort of 4k Pursuit. But with 4km to go no Asgreen attack came. Nor at 3km either. Instead, Asgreen still continued to rotate turns with Van Der Poel even as their lead began to balloon over the chasers resigned to fighting for third. With 2km to go, Asgreen was still switching turns. But with 1.4km to go, Van Der Poel rotated to the front and Asgreen did not come through again. Under the Flamme Rouge, the Red Kite signifying 1km to go, Van Der Poel began looking over his shoulder. Surely, he seemed to understand he was the overwhelming favorite for this sprint and thus he accepted taking up the disadvantageous role on the front to lead it out. But he began the constant looking over the shoulder. It actually got to the point Van Der Poel was permanently looking over his shoulder. But one extremely interesting thing to note with hindsight, unlike last year’s Autumn Ronde where it was both the Mighty Aces ending the race in a similar Track Sprint with Van Der Poel on the front, this year Van Der Poel’s lead-out pace was slightly higher. Last year, the utter slowness, almost standstill Van Der Poel led the pair down to O! so greatly built up the tension…while this year, it seemed much more business end to the day. There was much more of a sense that Van Der Poel just wanted to get this wrapped up quickly so they could hit the podium soon, he could then shower, and have a ham or lamb Easter dinner. All Mighty Ace Rocket-launcher Mathieu Van Der Poel had to do was beat Casper Asgreen who had not the palmares of his Mighty Ace archrival Wout Van Aert who sat on his wheel last year in this same position and was beaten. We watched them pass 500m to go, “Van Der Poel’s got this,” we said. 400m to go, “Yes, Van Der Poel is completely ready to win this.” 300m to go, “Look! Asgreen clearly just sat up and switched to a higher gear, he’s telegraphing when he’s gonna go in this sprint. Van Der Poel is gonna mop him up.” At 250m Asgreen was clearly ramping up the speed, and he fully burst with 225m remaining, and Van Der Poel was too. It was Asgreen’s last chance and of course he had to try something. Once again Van Der Poel’s initial acceleration was unmatched and he had started within a hair of Asgreen from a bike-length ahead. It seemed all wrapped up. But with 100m to go, Van Der Poel had clearly already topped out on speed and Asgreen had drawn even with him. In that moment we all held our breath, for Van Der Poel was flailing and fatigued while Asgreen still had the strength to sustain the sprint. With 75m to go, Van Der Poel was rocking back-and-forth so violently, pouring everything into it, but in that instant he could not continue the sprint. He had spent the energy and emptied the tank while Asgreen clearly had the gas to get all the way to the line. At the 50m to go sign, Madman Mathieu Van Der Poel sat down in the saddle all energy spent, no speed left, and he bowed his head in the most universal sign of defeat. With Van Der Poel sitting down having lost and known he’d lost, Asgreen was able to post up at the line to show off the sponsor’s name and his Danish colors.
Casper Asgreen of Elegant-Quickstep in his Red with White Cross Danish Champion’s Jersey crossed the line first to win the Ronde Van Vlaanderen, the Tour of Flanders. This was the same Casper Asgreen that took victory at the E3 Classic nine days ago off the back of a tremendous team effort by the Wolfpack. But here today in Flanders, though Wolfpack teammate Alphalippe the Musketeer made some moves, it was Casper Asgreen who made his own victory happen. Over the course of this race, Casper Asgreen produced the ride of his life. He went toe-to-toe with both the Mighty Aces, and he beat both Wout Van Aert and Mathieu Van Der Poel outright—no head-starts, no tactical team support advantage. Perhaps Van Der Poel should have slowed down the sprint a bit more, but it was Asgreen who launched at his most optimal point from 225m out. It was Asgreen who was the one making selections all day. It was Asgreen who let not Rocket-launcher Van Der Poel get away. It was Asgreen who earned the Wolfpack yet another Monument victory. Yes, surely after such a win, Casper Asgreen shall be more than just one of the many arrows in the Quickstep Quiver. Surely, he shall be one of the special arrows differently colored, reserved to pierce the greatest of rival beasts. He was truly the man of the match, equal on the climbs, won a hard sprint, and didn’t even show off the solo time-trialing we all know he is capable of. Yes, after such a performance, in this Classics team of teams, Casper Asgreen shall surely be the new de facto Quickstep headliner for every Cobbled Classic which has not been the case since Tom Boonen’s retirement. Congratulations Casper, for you are now the Alpha Wolf of the Wolfpack.
Cycling Odysseys 