‘I can give others some pressure’ – Why Lorena Wiebes could be the most influential rider on the Tour of Flanders start line

It really doesn’t need to be said anymore that Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) is more than just a sprinter. She’s one of the most powerful riders of her generation, a gritty Classics rider, and when it comes to this Sunday’s Tour of Flanders, possibly one of the most important riders on the start list.

Coming into the race second in command to three-time winner Lotte Kopecky, Wiebes could be the ultimate card in SD Worx’s hand, and a real tactical headache for her rivals.

If her In Flanders Fields victory is anything to go by, the Dutchwoman is on flying form right now, strong over some pretty hard climbs, so if she can survive into the final of Flanders on Sunday, she could become a real threat.

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Speaking to Cyclingnews and other media at SD Worx’s pre-Flanders press conference, Wiebes was clear that she won’t be the outright leader on Sunday, but she knows she can play a decisive role if her legs come good on the day.

“Normally it’s Lotte, but I think the best situation for us will be if Lotte is there in front in a group and I will be behind, like the same as San Remo actually. I think that’s ideal,” she said.

“For me it’s also a bit that I don’t know exactly where I stand on this kind of parcours. It’s different to Wevelgem, so I really have to see how far I can survive on these climbs. Last year I had not my best day in Flanders, but I hope this year it’s better, and I can be there longer for the team and give others some pressure whilst I’m still there.”

As Wiebes said, the importance of her role will become clear if Kopecky is up the road and she is in a chase group, as her sprinting prowess will be a big reason for the teams’ rival not to chase – no one will want to drag Wiebes back to the front of the race.

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The question for Wiebes, however, is getting to that position. Other teams will no doubt be trying to drop her early on the climbs, and we know she can deal with a lot of bergs – she’s finished as high as 11th here before.

If her Kemmelberg performances last Sunday are anything to go by, the Dutchwoman is in pretty monster shape, but she was cautious to not be too bullish about her abilities.

“In some way yes,” she said when asked if she was in her best climbing form. “But I also know that every race is a new one. In the end also things need to fall into place, and you need to have the legs that day. It can be that you have an off day and you get dropped on one of the first climbs and then you know it’s going to be a long day.”

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With climbers like Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot on the start list for this year’s Flanders, SD Worx are expecting one of the hardest challenges yet, but Wiebes also pointed out that strength is about more than just the physical, especially in a race like Sunday’s.

“I think yes [it’s more difficult to win Flanders these days]. But on the other hand, like last year, Lotte also showed that she was able to win it with maybe not the best form of her life,” she said. “I think then if you’re mentally so strong then you can do a lot of things to win a race.

“But I think this year I will expect that other teams will open the race early. Especially FDJ, you saw also at Dwars door Vlaanderen that they keep on attacking early in the race. Actually in Wevelgem it was also the first time that the race opened quite early, so there’s a change in how the teams are racing and how the peloton is.”

In face of this, SD Worx will be hoping Kopecky is in better shape than her – still race-winning – level from last spring, and Wiebes said all the signs are there.

“That’s also what she showed already in a race like San Remo,” Wiebes said. “When you have a good winter instead of a winter with injury or other things, that makes a big difference.”

For Wiebes, whether she gets to play that joker role in the final or not remains to be seen, but all she can do is train, prepare, and “not think too much about what’s going to happen with the suffering”.

“You need to be really prepared for everything. Also in a race like Flanders, positioning is key. If you are not in position for the Koppenberg, you have a problem, we saw it in the past. If you need to walk up then you can lose the race there already. So mentally you need to be prepared to fight for your position,” she said.

“For me, if I want to do a good Flanders, everything needs to fall in place, also with positioning, mentally, and good legs.

“I hope I have a bit the same legs as last Sunday for this Sunday.”

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