When the Tour de Flanders gets underway in Bruges on Sunday, three riders stand as the leading candidates for glory in Oudenaarde six hours later.

Two-time winner Mathieu van der Pol leads Alpecin Desseuninck, while Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma) and Tadej Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates) are the biggest threats for a third win in Oudenaarde.

The trio, who were active in last week's "Mini Flanders" E3 Saxo Classic, are backed by a strong group of deputies, including Van der Pol's new teammate Seelen Kraaf Andersen.

The Danish rider, who spent his professional career with Team DSM before moving to the Belgian team in the winter, has already proven to be an invaluable ally for the star, despite only having raced two days by Van der Pol's side.

This week, Van der Pol avoided his usual course and trained in Spain, where the weather was warmer. However, Claf Andersen spoke about the new partnership in Flanders.

"So far we have only run two races together (Milan-San Remo and the E3 Saxo Classic). We've only done two races together so far (Milano-Sanremo and the E3 Saxo Classic)," said Dane, who addressed the press conference from inside his car on Thursday. I was very excited to see what would happen.

"So far the two races with him have been pretty cool. If he says he's more relaxed, then I guess he likes that I'm pretty far ahead of him in the race. I don't know much about him yet, but I feel like we understand each other's way of racing"

.

Claf Andersen had a number of big wins with his former team, DSM, including two breakaway stage wins at the 2020 Tour de France. Since then, however, results have been harder to come by.

Early results looked promising, with a fifth-place finish in San Remo when Van der Pol won the breakaway and a ninth-place finish in E3 when the Dutchman took second place. Claf Andersen said the spring is going better than expected.

"I feel good after the race, but not before. I was in a good position during the winter and I was happy with the team. Of course I was hoping to have a good race, but in E3 I was a little surprised myself.

"I haven't won any big cobbled classics yet, but this year - like I said - so far it's promising. I'm just behind a few really high level guys. But at the moment I'm among the best of the rest."

"Maybe it will be an advantage. We'll have to see in the next few weeks," he concluded, adding that he may be one of the "dark horses" for success this weekend.

Asked for his opinion on Alpecin Deceuninck's rivals in Flanders, Claf Andersen noted that Tadej Pogachar, who finished third in E3 last spring and fourth here, is probably not talking enough in light of Jumbo Visma's cobbled classic winning streak.

"I've thought of a lot of different scenarios," he said. But a lot of people forget that Pogachar is part of this big formula."

"If he wants to tear up the race, not many will stay, not even Jumbo Visma. We and they have to race our own race, but we can't forget about him. Van der Pol, the leader, has good legs.

From veterans like Sepp Vanmarcke and Alexander Kristoff, to Tom Pidcock, a relative newcomer racing on his second day back from concussion in Tirreno-Adriatico, to Sudar Quickstep, the usual Classics powerhouse.

Kraig Andersen said of Quick Step, which has not done great so far in the cobbled season, "You certainly have to count them out. They have a super strong team and are working hard to turn things around."

"I would never underestimate their squad. You can never underestimate the big leaders on that team.

"Of course, there are a lot of guys who can win, but my feeling is [Pidcock] could be there," he added, referring to Groupama-FDJ's Valentin Maduas, who finished third in last year's race.

"Looking at his career so far, you know when is a good time. He knows the big races and he loves them. When the big finish comes, he is ready."