Tom Pidcock thinks the Tour of Flanders will be open and aggressive. With the Ronde just three days away, the big story is the allegations surrounding Wout Van Aert, who has been dominant this spring and won the E3 Saxo Bank Classic last week. On Thursday, Pidcock said at a pre-Flanders press conference, "The race will definitely change." The number of people in the final will change, and the strength of the jambo will change."

The phenomenally strong Jumbo-Visma group was expected to stamp its authority on Sunday, just as it did at E3.

"There is no place to be wary now," said the rider of the Ineos Grenadiers. 'If the race starts early, you have to be there. Pidcock pointed to the presence of two-time Tour de France winner Tadey Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates) and predicted exactly how Sunday's race will unfold. Pidcock made an interesting comment after Dwars door Hlaanderen, suggesting that Pogachar "doesn't fully understand" the cobbled classics, having never run a cobbled classic as a professional before Wednesday.

He conceded that Pogachar, a 22-year-old in his second season, was hardly the most experienced, but echoed the point, suggesting that attacking from a distance would be advantageous for Pogachar. Said Pidcock. 'Like I said about Pogachar, he probably doesn't have a lot of experience, and if we attack early, when it's easier to get into position, he'll only have his legs if we have a small group. You have to assume anything." Pidcock first tasted the cobblestones and climbs of the Flanders Ardennes on a training ride the day after winning the Junior Paris-Roubaix in 2017, an experience he revealed he "hated." But the cyclocross and mountain bike great has always seemed suited to rough and punchy terrain, and he made a big impact in his first cobbled classic at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad last year. Last year he won at Brabantse Pijl and was on the podium at Dwars before Flanders. Now," he added, "I guess I've grown up a bit.

Pidcock, however, refused to put himself in contention to win on Sunday. 'No, I don't think so,' he said. There are guys who have proven themselves in this race. I have a chance, but ...... Yes, ...... The race has to go well," he said. Pidcock's chances are still up in the air given the stomach problems that have plagued him for the past few weeks and have yet to be fully resolved. After missing Strade Bianche and abandoning Milan-San Remo, his spring looked to be in real trouble when he struggled in Ghent-Wevelgem on Sunday, but he bounced back nicely in Douard. However, the Tour of Flanders is nearly 100 km long, so not only will he need form and endurance, he will also need to refuel for an extra two and a half hours.

"With recent health issues and athletes not having much experience racing this distance, the distance is certainly a factor, but I don't think it will be a limiting factor," Pidcock said.

"I feel very positive after Wednesday. I'm back to myself. I'm back at the front and I've got the taste and the feel back. That's important for this weekend. I don't know if I'm fully recovered, but I felt pretty good on Wednesday. That's all I know