Just really got to know this rider recently, but Im sure the likes of Echoes can tell me a lot more about him. I've really fallen in love with his powerfull attacks and his optimistic riding. He initiated the winning moves in both races in the belgian opener, on Taienberg in Omloop and on the flat run towards Kuurne in K-B-K. Unfortunately he didn't quite have enough to stay with the 3 best cobbled specialists (yet) in Omloop, but showed how incredibly strong he was on the flat roads after a hard race in Kuurne once again after winning in 2016. The sprint was never really close against Sagan, but he was the second strongest rider that day. And absolutely no shame in that!
I was also amazed of how close he was to winning in Cherbourg in the Tour last year. The guy has an amazing motor. Unlike cobbled specialists like Sep Vanmarcke, I have the feeling that he can do well in other (big) races which his win in the Vuelta also proved. And he is still very young.
He is obviously very good in the Flemish races, but IMO Roubaix suits his characteristics the best. He will have a hard time like everyone else trying to follow GVA and Sagan in Flanders, but what I see as his biggest strength (so far) is attacking on flat roads after a hard race and powering it home. And he is already one of the biggest outsiders this year.
I was also amazed of how close he was to winning in Cherbourg in the Tour last year. The guy has an amazing motor. Unlike cobbled specialists like Sep Vanmarcke, I have the feeling that he can do well in other (big) races which his win in the Vuelta also proved. And he is still very young.
He is obviously very good in the Flemish races, but IMO Roubaix suits his characteristics the best. He will have a hard time like everyone else trying to follow GVA and Sagan in Flanders, but what I see as his biggest strength (so far) is attacking on flat roads after a hard race and powering it home. And he is already one of the biggest outsiders this year.