Dylan Groenewegen<\/a>, the most impressive aspect of Van der Poel\u2019s win was that it came before the classics specialist had even reached his peak condition.<\/p>\n\u201cI think a lot of riders were already at one hundred percent,\u201d Groenewegen explained on the NOS Wielerpodcast. \u201cWith Mathieu, the base level is just so high. Even at ninety-five per cent, he\u2019s still at top level, and heading towards the Tour of Flanders, there will probably still be another step.\u201d<\/p>\n
That observation will not be encouraging for the riders hoping to challenge Van der Poel in the monuments ahead. If Omloop Het Nieuwsblad already represented a dominant performance, Groenewegen\u2019s suggestion that another step is still to come points to an even more formidable rival in the weeks leading towards the biggest races of the spring.<\/p>\n
Changing how the classics are raced<\/p>\n
Van der Poel\u2019s influence on the modern classics extends beyond his results alone. According to Groenewegen, the Alpecin leader has also changed how teams approach these races tactically.<\/p>\n
\u201cMathieu is one of the first riders who thought: \u2018I\u2019ll open the race myself, then I control it,\u2019\u201d Groenewegen said. \u201cThat has also changed the tactics of Visma | Lease a Bike a little bit. They often used to create situations where they had numbers, but he has made it more of a one-on-one battle. And in those situations, he is often the strongest.\u201d<\/p>\n
That approach was visible again in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Rather than waiting for rivals to attack, Van der Poel seized the initiative himself at the decisive moment and quickly turned the race into a test of pure strength.<\/p>\n
A daunting prospect for the peloton<\/p>\n
With the classics season now moving rapidly towards races such as Strade Bianche and the Tour of Flanders, Dumoulin believes Van der Poel\u2019s rivals may already face a daunting challenge.<\/p>\n
The Dutchman\u2019s combination of explosive power, tactical instinct and the ability to control a race from the front has repeatedly left opponents searching for answers. Even riders who spent years racing against him admit they never truly discovered a reliable way to stop him.<\/p>\n
After Opening Weekend, that dilemma appears as pressing as ever. Van der Poel may have claimed he was not yet at full strength, but the manner of his victory in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad suggests that even slightly below his peak, he remains the benchmark everyone else must find a way to beat this spring.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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