Mathieu van der Poel: Is his hand injury jeopardising the monuments?

Mathieu van der Poel completed the route inspection for the E3 Saxo Classic on Tuesday. The Dutchman rode over the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg together with team-mate Silvan Dillier. According to Cycling News said Dillier about Van der Poel's hand injury: "He's definitely still feeling it. But if he's at the start on Friday, he'll be our leader, without a doubt."

Boonen warns of risk of infection

Now another voice is intervening - none other than former Belgian classics star Tom Boonen. Boonen advises Van der Poel against his planned starts at E3 and Middelkerke-Wevelgem. "I saw the hand, it was swollen," said the Belgian on the "Live Slow Ride Fast" podcast. The four-time Paris-Roubaix winner knows similar situations from his own experience. "I fell on my hands once. Nothing was broken, but the tendon was exposed and the wound was stitched up. Then I developed an infection from continuing to ride in bad weather."

Boonen warns of the special conditions in Flanders. "Many people don't realise that you ride through wet muck in Flanders. Farmers have been travelling with their equipment and the muck is on the road." An open wound can become a gateway for infection. "Riding in the rain is certainly not advisable, especially with wounds. An infection can develop quickly, especially after about five days."

Conclusion - risk for the big goals

Van der Poel has won the E3 Saxo Classic for the past two years. A third victory in Harelbeke would mean a hat-trick. But the priorities should be clear: a victory at the E3 would be another nice success for the Dutchman, but is out of all proportion to the upcoming monuments. With the Tour of Flanders on 5 April and Paris-Roubaix just one week later, the more important goals for the cycling star are clearly set. In any case, it doesn't seem worth the risk of relapsing into recovery to contest the races next weekend. Mathieu van der Poel will have to be in top form against Tadej Pogačar, otherwise he could face further defeats in cycling's five biggest one-day races after Milan-Sanremo.