Belgium have opted for the high-risk tactic of choosing Jasper Philipsen and Tim Merlier for Sunday’s European street race championships and can give each the liberty to dash for victory, even when they go face to face and shoulder to shoulder.
Belgian nationwide coach Sven Vanthourenhout has chosen two sprinters as a result of each Philipsen and Merlier are potential winners and so in concept provide extra probabilities of victory.
“We had been each promised that we might get our likelihood in a dash. So I do not see any issues with that,” Philipsen informed the Belgian media about sharing dash management with Merlier on the eve of the race.
“Similar reply,” the normally extra reserved Melier added.
Each Belgian sprinters are on kind and each might win the 220km race across the twisting roads of east Flanders. They each raced at Alpecin in 2021 and 2022 earlier than Merlier moved on to Soudal however hardly ever raced collectively. Now they share crew management.
Merlier crashed arduous on stage 2 of the Renewi Tour however is assured of his dash. The Soudal Fast-Step rider has received 3 sprints in 2024, together with three levels on the Giro d’Italia and the Scheldeprijs Basic, the place he beat Philipsen.
Philipsen is arguably once more the perfect sprinter of the season. He received Milan-San Remo and Basic Brugge-De Panne, was second at Paris-Roubaix after which received three levels on the Tour de France, the place Alpecin-Deceuninck teammate van der Poel is usually his lead out man.
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Each Philipsen and Merlier could have their very own mini-lead outs as they tackle Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands), Jonathan Milan (Italy), Mads Pedersen (Denmark), Alexander Kristoff (Norway) and riders from 31 totally different nations.
If the race ends in a bunch pace, Philipsen might dash down one facet of the street and Merlier on the opposite, in a type of Belgian dash showdown.
“Something is feasible,” Philipsen stated.
“There are extra sprinters than simply us,” Merlier added, highlighting how the 2 will thrash out a sprinting settlement with nationwide coach Sven Vanthourenhout within the pre-race crew assembly.
Vanthourenhout seems to have chosen two sprinters as a result of each Philipsen and Merlier are potential winners. Maybe Belgium additionally is aware of that the race won’t finish in a bunch dash, as was the case within the junior males and underneath 23 males races. Philipsen and Merlier might each win from a break or win a bunch dash if the race techniques imply the peloton comes again collectively.
“I wouldn’t have a crystal ball, however… the course is appropriate for racing. A bit just like the Ronde van Limburg. And that doesn’t at all times finish in a dash,” Merlier steered.
Philipsen was not so satisfied and can maybe keep within the peloton and hope for a bunch dash.
“Folks like Pedersen and Mathieu van der Poel will wish to make the race arduous however then it won’t be as much as me to take part. Our probabilities of profitable are best in a mass dash. That is what we’re aiming for,” he stated.
The situations don’t embody one sprinter sacrificing their likelihood for the opposite.
“I do not count on it to occur,” Philipsen made clear.
“Each Tim and I’ll survive that with the mandatory freshness. But when I actually am on the finish of my rope and get the sensation that I am unable to win, it could be a bit silly to attempt. In that case, I am afraid I will not be capable to present a lead-out.”
Merlier agreed. Each merely wish to dash for themselves and they’re going to have the liberty to take action.
Because the Flemish media identified, it might finish in triumph or catastrophe.
