Somewhat worryingly for those competing against him in Bruges on Sunday morning, Mathieu Van der Pol looks to be in much better physical and mental condition than when he won the Tour de Flanders last year.

Van der Pol won his second Ronde title last year, albeit belatedly, after a winter plagued by back injuries.

He moved from Belgium to Spain, choosing to train in warmer weather rather than race in the rain and wind.

He finished second in last Friday's E3 Saxo Classic behind nemesis Wout Van Aert.

He missed out on his third crown on Sunday in Ghent-Wevelgem and Wednesday in Doire de Vlaanderen, but was able to fine-tune his preparation for Flanders.

"I did a special job in ideal weather conditions to have a good run in both the Ronde and Paris-Roubaix," said Van der Pol, who returned to Belgium on Thursday night.

"On Sunday we did our last long training session, and the next day we did an even longer one in order to be at our best for the following week. I took the last few days off to stay fresh."

"I had a good rest day,"

Tourpole said, "and I was able to get some rest.

The Tour of Flanders may be the task at hand, but Van der Pol was keenly aware of Roubaix, which he has yet to win.

"In Paris-Roubaix, I was often just a little bit inferior to the Tour of Flanders. I wanted to avoid that this year.

"It's difficult. Because of my back problems, I had an atypical run last year. I feel more "race-ready" now.

"Last year I was successful with a slightly less wide base. In Roubaix, my legs were already a little weak. Hopefully that won't be the case this year."

"I'm hoping that I'm not going to be able to do that this year.

Because of his late return to Belgium, Van der Pol was unable to participate in the parcours reconnaissance of Flanders conducted on Thursday by the Alpecin des Seuninck team.

"I have run the Ronde several times. I know the course. I also ran the E3 Harelbeke last Friday."

Van der Pol seems physically fresh and mentally relaxed.

"His condition is much more consistent than last year. I think he is a little bit better than last year. But that doesn't guarantee that he will win again," Adley told Cycling News.

Adley expressed "surprise" that Van Aert risked getting sick in the rain and cold of Ghent-Wevelgem, arguing that Van der Pol's approach was more sensible given the conditions. However, Van Aert dominated that race, handed the win to his teammate, and now seems to be gaining momentum with the Jumbo Visma team.

Van der Pol lost a rare sprint win to Van Aert in E3, but Adley did not feel a lack of confidence in his son.

"He had a great race in E3. He was more or less aware of the Tour de Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. I think he had already used his head in these races."

"When I took him to the airport the next day, he was very motivated. There was nothing to worry about. He came back with everything between his ears normal.

Mathieu Van der Pol himself noted that Van Aert was his "most difficult customer in the sprint" and that Tadej Pogachar "prefers to ride with us to the finish and tries to escape us on the climb."

However, he insisted that "it is too easy to say that the three of us will come out on top" and not "tie ourselves into a three-way battle."

As for the ideal scenario, Van der Pol, who already has two titles under his belt, is now brimming with confidence. [The last three times I ran to the finish line with two people. To finish alone is something special."