By Tom Bachmann, dpa
Perhaps Nils Politt is taking a piece of wisdom from boxing as a model. It is said there that battered fighters are the most dangerous. And Politt is a little on the ropes ahead of the four most important weeks of the classic cycling season.
A bronchitis has knocked the Cologne rider out three times in recent weeks, which is why he has at most an outsider's chance at the Tour of Flanders on Sunday. "You have to be realistic, it will be difficult or even impossible to be at the front in Flanders," Politt told dpa.
Flu epidemic hits the peloton
Following the departure of top star Peter Sagan, the 28-year-old is the figurehead of the German team Bora-hansgrohe in the classics. And with a view to his palmares, quite rightly so. With fifth place in Flanders and second place in Paris-Roubaix three years ago, Politt has ridden his way to the top of the world rankings and established himself there with his solo stage win at the last Tour de France.
However, his health has not been playing ball these weeks, which has meant that training sessions and race fitness have been lacking. "Our entire team has been shaken by illness and unfortunately we don't have a single rider who is really in top form," emphasised Politt. At times, the racing team only had ten fit riders and did not compete in many races with the maximum permitted number of professionals.
Bora-hansgrohe does not have this trouble exclusively in the peloton. A flu epidemic paralysed half the peloton at Paris-Nice, many stars were absent at Milan-Sanremo. And last week, European champion Sonny Colbrelli collapsed after the first stage of the Tour of Catalonia and had to be resuscitated. It was the Italian's first race after suffering from bronchitis.
That's why Bora is not getting restless. "It would be unfair to measure Nils in Flanders against his second place in Roubaix. But his morale is definitely right," sports director Rolf Aldag told dpa. And if the top form is not there, the ex-pro is working on a surprise tactic for Politt for the 272.5-kilometre race over 18 poisonous climbs and rough Flemish cobblestones. "We will ride offensively and think about something," said the 53-year-old. Perhaps Wednesday of this week was already a test, as Politt rode in a breakaway group for a long time at the Quer durch Flandern and finished fifth in the end.
Van Aert, van der Poel and Pogacar the favourites
However, the big favourite is in danger of dropping out. Wout van Aert from the previously dominant Jumbo-Visma team did not feel well on Thursday and had to take a break. According to the team, his participation is uncertain. Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel and Uber rider Tadej Pogacar are also considered contenders for victory. The Slovenian is riding in Flanders for the first time as a professional, supposedly just to prepare for the cobbled stage of this year's Tour de France. However, since Pogacar won the Tour of Lombardy and the Strade Bianche gravel road race on his first participation, the 23-year-old will be trusted to do anything.
And Politt can use Flanders above all to collect race kilometres. After all, his big dream is to win Paris-Roubaix - and the calendar is in his favour this year. Instead of traditionally taking place one week after Flanders, the "Hell of the North" will take place two weeks later this year due to the French presidential elections. "It's good for Nils that he has a bit of breathing space and can build up," said Aldag. His chances are definitely better there than in Flanders. But maybe the surprise tactics will work.
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