Can Girmay compete with Van der Poel and Van Aert in Flanders? "That's unrealistic, but maybe he can get a few percent closer"

Aike Visbeek is currently a sports director at Intermarché-Wanty. The 47-year-old is also known for his forthright communication. That was no different after Gent-Wevelgem, when IDLProCycling.com caught up with him at the team bus!

Mathieu van der Poel, who was narrowly beaten by Mads Pedersen at the finish, broke open the race 150 kilometers from the end, causing the peloton to splinter into echelons, Intermarché-Wanty was well represented in the first echelon. "As a team, we rode really well in Gent-Wevelgem," confirms Visbeek. "Despite some setbacks, we were well positioned in the race. In the first passage through De Moeren, we had Mike (Teunissen), Madis (Mihkels), and Laurenz (Rex) in the first group. That was pretty neat."

Intermarché-Wanty has a strong presence and rode an impressive race in Gent-Wevelgem

"When Laurenz got a flat, our situation became a bit more complicated. But thanks to the control in the peloton, he was able to catch up," continues the former sports director of what is now dsm-firmenich PostNL. "Moreover, the Kemmelberg passages were also good. There, we often were among the first ten to fifteen riders."

When at one point Van der Poel and Pedersen seemed to have broken away for good, it was Hugo Page from Visbeek’s team who, along with Ben Turner (INEOS Grenadiers) and Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies), launched a counterattack. "When we took the initiative with Hugo, it was to ensure we still had someone in between. He didn’t feel super, but he managed anyway," he praises the Frenchman.

Shortly after, an intriguing moment unfolded in the race. Lidl-Trek, Pedersen's squad, seemed to be in cahoots with Intermarché-Wanty, both apparently taking turns to dial down the speed in the main group. "I found out after the finish that two of our guys were leading the pack right next to Lidl-Trek. It looked as though we were collectively slowing things down, which helped those two (Mathieu van der Poel and Mads Pedersen) pull further ahead," Visbeek sheds light on the situation. "We didn’t catch this during the race. But you're not about to chase down Hugo, especially when he’s just clinched a top five in GP Denain. It's a complex scenario."

Visbeek is optimistic about Girmay's form, the Classics will be the cherry on top

Then there’s the team’s classics leader, Biniam Girmay, who finished fifth in the sprint for third place, making him seventh in the final standings. "Biniam also rode the E3 on Friday. He really pushed himself to the limit then. Very deep. We weren't sure we could clinch a win against the other sprinters right away. All in all, it was a good day," concludes his Dutch sports director.

"Looking at those who tackled both the E3 and Gent-Wevelgem, it’s clear Mathieu and Mads stood out. But Biniam did exceptionally well too. I believe he had an outstanding weekend. Missing out on a top ten finish in the E3 was tough and a bit sour since it was definitely achievable. So, his seventh-place finish in Gent-Wevelgem was particularly impressive. It’s a sign of good things to come."

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Visbeek seems to have mixed feelings about the spring classics so far. "Starting with a sixth place in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (with Rex) was great. Things didn't go our way in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. And in Milan-San Remo, we didn't achieve a good result either. Still, I believe we've been in the mix where it counts. Beyond that, things are going well, but we're definitely still waiting for the cherry on top. We really should be able to secure a top-five or top-three finish. Everything's up for grabs in Dwars door Vlaanderen," he mentions the semi-classic scheduled for Wednesday, March 27. "We have strong riders like Rex and Girmay to play. We're aiming for the podium with these guys."

Girmay and Rex to lead in Dwars door Vlaanderen, Teunissen's participation is uncertain

And when you mention Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday, you naturally think of the Tour of Flanders on Sunday. Can Girmay compete in any way with the likes of Van der Poel, Wout van Aert, and Pedersen? "I don't think it's realistic to say that Biniam will close the gap to Van der Poel and Van Aert," Visbeek honestly admits.

"However, in recent races, he's shown that he belongs in the group right behind them, alongside riders like Jasper Stuyven or Tim Wellens, aiming for a top-five finish. And if things go well, he could definitely aim for the podium. Who knows. What I mean to say is: in 2022, he finished third in the second group at Milan-San Remo, twelfth overall. Then he made a huge leap. He was very strong in the E3 (fifth), followed by a win in Gent-Wevelgem. Realistically, he could gain a few more percent this period."