Both are in something approaching the form of their life: Van der Poel swept the field in the winter cyclo-cross season to win his seventh world title in the discipline, and carried that form into the spring road races, winning Milan-San Remo – the year’s first Monument – for the second time.

Tadej Pogačar showed his strength to claiming a second Tour of Flanders title with a powerful solo victory on Sunday.

Tadej Pogacar denied rival Mathieu van der Poel a record fourth Tour of Flanders title when the Slovenian won the second Monument of the season in Belgium for the second time in his career on Sunday.