Kasper Asgreen: “We need to anticipate on Sunday”

One of the few Danish riders to win a Monument, the 29-year-old from Kolding remains confident in Soudal Quick-Step’s chances of getting a good result at the 108th edition of Ronde van Vlaanderen.

“Going into De Ronde, it’s pretty clear for everyone that we are in a different situation than in the past. We would have preferred to be in the position we were a couple of years ago, but we aren’t and that’s a fact. Despite this, we’ll try to do the best we can, to prepare as well as possible and focus on our race. Being frustrated by the fact we aren’t the same team anymore or sitting in a corner crying won’t help us.

We have to work hard to return to the level we had in the past, but it’s obvious that for Sunday afternoon we’ll need to adapt and bring something different. As we aren’t the team that has to control the race anymore and dictate how it unfolds, we’ll try to be in a position where we can do something interesting with a solid result in mind. Following Wednesday’s Dwars door Vlaanderen things have changed and it’s very likely we will see a different race than we were used to, with a completely new dynamic.

We’ll have to anticipate, but that’s not a secret. Flanders is a race with many crucial points and we need to find the one that suits us and works to our advantage. For some, this moment can be the Oude Kwaremont, because it’s the longest climb of the race and the best place to attack for that reason, as many are already suffering there and near the top you can make the difference if you have the power, even if it’s not that steep.

But there are also other important points on the parcours, and as I said, we have a strategy which we want to stick to and hopefully this will help us get a good result.

One thing that it’s already clear is that we are all very motivated and keen on giving our best. We come to the start with a good team and we have to race as one and believe in ourselves, because as everyone knows, the Wolfpack never gives up. It’s a Monument, and one of the hardest races of the season for that matter, and anything can happen.”

Photo credit: ©Wout Beel