Given the sprint speed of the other two big contenders for victory, the Belgian Wout Van Aert and the Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, the Slovenian thinks that he will "probably have an interest in taking the lead", even if he assures "not to have pre-established tactics".
"To win, you will probably have to be the strongest in the hills," explained the young rider (24) who already has two of the five Monuments of cycling to his name, the Tour of Lombardy (2021 and 2022) and Liège-Bastogne-Liège (2021).
"The Vieux Quaremont (2,200 m at 4% average at 17 km from the line) I like more than the Paterberg (360 m at 13% at 13 km) which is too short for me," said the double winner of the Tour de France.
"There is no single plan because a lot can happen in a day of more than six hours on such a delicate course. The way I race will depend on how the race runs and my legs," he said, adding that it would be "a mistake to focus solely on Van Aert and Van der Poel" even though he has never won a one-day race when he had to face both opponents simultaneously.
Tadej Pogacar on March 31, 2023 in front of the press, two days before the Tour of Flanders. "There is no single plan because a lot can happen in a day of more than six hours on such a delicate course," anticipates the Slovenian leader of Team UAE © KURT DESPLENTER / BELGA / AFP / Archives
"I feel strong. And I probably have a chance to win provided I am in a good day, "said the leader of the UAE formation who trained in Monaco during the week "alternating long outings, difficult, and more relaxed days to enjoy a little anyway".
If successful on Sunday, the Slovenian would emulate Frenchman Louison Bobet and Belgian Eddy Merckx, the only two to have won both the Tour de France and the Ronde.
"I don't know the whole history of cycling but to be able to join these two legends is of course a motivation. And this race is so special with this incredible atmosphere, this crowd, this extraordinary course," he concluded.
© 2023 AFP