Tim Wellens counts on Mathieu van der Poel’s help in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

The arrival of Mathieu van der Poel at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad increases the chances for attackers compared to the fast men, who took the win last year. In that regard, Belgian champion Tim Wellens is glad that the 31-year-old Dutchman will be at the start, but in an interview with Sporza, he says that his task is no easier than before.

Wellens has started the new season very strong for UAE Emirates XRG. In Spain, he consecutively finished sixth, first, and ninth in the Vuelta a Murcia, the Clásica Jaén, and the Ruta del Sol respectively. His more than sixty-kilometer solo over the partially unpaved roads through the olive groves around Jaén was especially impressive. "My metrics there were incredibly good. My best values over sixty minutes ever, even."

"I feel that my engine grows bigger every year. Those are trainings that pay off. Although that doesn’t automatically translate into victories," says the Belgian champion, who will face MVDP on Saturday at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. According to Wellens, he is both an ally and a rival. "Mathieu is a rider who doesn’t like it when forty riders arrive at the finish together. That also applies to our team. On the other hand, the presence of Van der Poel means my chances of winning shrink."

The Belgian does dream of this spring: winning in his champion’s jersey. He told this earlier in an interview with WielerFlits. "If I may dream, I would like to win a classic in the tricolore. Of course, I want that every year, but now it would be especially special. Is the chance greater with or without Tadej Pogačar? He was also there in the Tour de France. It’s not that if Tadej is there I have no chance to win. But okay, it is easier then to follow my own plan."