Q: At a certain point, did you decide that you had the confidence to win the sprint?
A: Yes, at a certain point, I decided that we had the confidence to win the sprint. In hindsight, I should have made the decision that we needed to attack one by one to drop Powless. Of course, this was a crucial moment in the final kilometres. I haven’t spoken to Wout yet, but anything can happen in a sprint. That was my mistake, my responsibility to consider and say, “No, guys, we need to play our chances differently, we must win this race.” I didn’t do that. Naturally, I’m very disappointed because the team rode a fantastic race right up to the final straight. This is really just a continuation of the last few races. Today was a beautiful race, I really enjoyed it, but the way it ended just wasn’t right.
Q: Was the decision made because it might have been better for Wout’s confidence if he won?
A: I want to see everyone win, but of course, it would have been great if Wout had taken this victory. Again, the breakaway stayed so close to the chasing group for a long time, so attacking would have been a big risk. But in the final stretch, it could have been possible. We had confidence that Wout would win the sprint. But if he gets cramp in such a long and tough finale, strange things can happen. And that’s exactly what happened today. Nine times out of ten, Wout would beat Nielsen in a sprint, but this time it didn’t happen. That’s no excuse, and I definitely take responsibility for it.
Q: When was the decision made to go for the sprint?
A: Just before the final metres, we were in contact with the guys. We were quite far behind, but then they decided to let it come down to a sprint. That’s when I should have said, “No, that doesn’t seem like a good idea, we should attack.”
Q: Did you put too much trust in Wout?
A: I don’t know. Normally, he would win a sprint like this. As far as I can tell, he had great legs today and rode an amazing race. But this was an unexpected scenario. If you break away with four riders and three of them are from the same team, then the easiest way to win is for one of them to go solo to the finish. That’s what we’ve done in previous years. Looking back, it was simply a big mistake.
Q: What do you take away from this for the Tour of Flanders?
A: Right now, disappointment is the main feeling. But we should remember that the whole team rode an incredible race today. We controlled the race. However, at this moment, disappointment is what stands out.
Q: Because of that lost sprint, we have to ask—how strong is Wout at the moment?
A: Up until that moment, he showed how strong he is. If he had won a sprint for 20th place, that wouldn’t have been good either. One thing is certain: Van der Poel and Pogacar are the absolute top favourites for the Tour of Flanders. There’s no question about that. They are the men to beat. But I think we have a very strong team overall.
Q: How can you use that strength to your advantage? Should you attack earlier or wait until the final?
A: We will have to see. It’s a very tough race with a long finale. In the coming days, we’ll put our heads together and hopefully come up with the best possible strategy for Sunday.
Q: Am I right in understanding that the riders themselves decided to go for the sprint, and you didn’t overrule it?
A: Yes, that’s correct. Who exactly made the decision doesn’t matter—we made it as a team. But again, ultimately, I’m responsible for the strategy, and in hindsight, I should have stepped in and said, “No, we’re not doing that, you have to attack.”
Q: Looking at the decisive moment when four riders broke away, was this part of the plan?
A: Yes, this was the plan. The guys executed it brilliantly. We wanted to be in position together earlier, but that didn’t work out. The second time, it did. We knew that with the tailwind, it would be tough, and that the race would likely split even before that. Once again, they executed that part perfectly.
Q: In previous races, positioning was the main issue. Was today a different story?
A: Yes, today was a completely different story.
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