Lidl Trek has become a powerhouse team in the cobbled classics. Sport director Gregory Rast described Mads Pedersen and the U.S. team's performance in Ghent-Wevelgem as "flawless," beating Mathieu Van der Pol (Alpecin-Desseuninck), who was in great form.

When asked before the start of Ghent-Wevelgem how he could have beaten Van der Pol in sunny Ypres, Pedersen was unsure, even of one of the most confident and assured riders in the peloton.

"It's hard ...... I don't know," Pedersen said. 'He's one of the best cyclists in the world. It's not easy to compete against him, but I have to try to beat him somehow."

The eventual winner, however, Pedersen told Cycling News that he will follow his approach from the E3 Saxo Classic, putting more people in the lead group and hoping that this time the world champion will be too much for him. [Indeed, with a team like this you have to play with numbers and our main goal is to have the numbers in the finals.

However, as was the case at E3, Van der Pol has the unique challenge of performing on the big stage regardless of the team pressure he has faced throughout his illustrious career. Whether it's Visma-Lease-a-Bike, Lidl-Trek, or Sourdal-Quickstep, the Dutch flying man has almost always had an answer when it matters most.

"Every time we try to beat him [van der Poer], we try to get as many people as we did at E3. But even there we have four people and he can still beat us," Pedersen said.

Pedersen, of course, is a champion of the sport. But he couldn't stop Patelberg in the E3 Saxo Classic, and even after beating him in the sprint-a-deux, he paid tribute to the world champion, who had soloed 43 km to the finish line, and spoke of his admiration at the post-race press conference.

"You know Mathieu is one of the biggest stars in cycling. I don't want to criticize my team, but no one else is at that level," Pedersen said.

"If you want to beat players like him or Wout (van Art) or (Tadej) Pogachar, you have to put pressure on them in numbers. It was nice to be there in numbers to put pressure on him and his team."

For Pedersen and Lidl-Trek, the race seemingly unfolded as it did in the pre-race meeting. They were active in De Molen and were one of the teams most interested in splitting the race as the echelon was forming.

Not surprisingly, according to Cycling News, the Danes assured that they were still in great shape at the start. Former world champion Rainbow Band, who excels in windy conditions, was at the front of the race when he was split from the pack 150 km from the finish.

As the race resumed and a repeat of Kemmelberg seemed to be the deciding factor, Lidle Trek once again showed that they were the team to watch.

As the world champion climbed the first climb of the Kemmelberg, he had only the red, blue, and yellow jersey of Lidl-Trek to show for it.

Pedersen was there, but so was Jonathan Milano, who had signed on not only for his sprinting ability but also to strengthen the Classics team. The Italian responded to the Dutchman's sprint by attacking with 82 km to go.

"I expected the race to be a little harder, with more groups and carnage, but I wanted to go aggressive from the first Kemmel," Rast told Cycling News and In De Leidestrui. [Mathieu] had to go after it up there, and Lawrence Petit had to go after it. I think Mads was able to save a lot there."

Milano and Pedersen attacked the world champion throughout the latter stages until the Italians returned to the peloton in the final Kemmel.

However, Rast did not underestimate the impact the Italians' fast run had on the finale and appreciated his work for the few more watts Pedersen had when he and Van der Pol reached Wevelgem in a two-man sprint.

"He was with Mathieu [van der Poer] and definitely wanted a short sprint and Mads [Pedersen] wanted a long sprint. [Ultimately, I think Jonathan Milano's actions cost Mathieu [van der Pol] two watts.

"It was a really perfect team performance. It was really, really great.

With the Tour of Flanders just a week away, Lidl Trek's confidence was sky high, and Rast was not surprised to see such brutal form from Pedersen.

"No," Rast replied immediately. I know he [Pedersen] prefers longer races that are a little different from shorter races with bang-bang [climbs], and I'm not surprised."

However, he was again cautious in his challenge to Van der Pol and another of De Ronde's favourites, Wout Van Aalto (Vimaris a Bike).

"He [Pedersen] is ready, but Mathieu and Wout might be a little more suited to this course. But Mads made the podium in Flanders."

"In any case, I don't think he's afraid of him [Van der Pol], but I think mentally he was ready for this race. Especially because this race, along with Paris-Roubaix, is the race that fits him best."

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