Tadej Pogacar said Thursday he cannot wait for this weekend’s one-day Tour of Flanders and is aiming to repeat his 2023 win—while avoiding a sprint showdown with reigning champion Mathieu van der Poel.

The 270-kilometer epic traverses the lush Flemish plains and features 18 cobbled sections and 17 hills, all lined with a passionate crowd expected to reach 750,000 spectators.

Pogacar Eyes Tactical Battle, Not A Sprint Finish

The current Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and world champion could add another prestigious classic to his growing legacy by winning what many cycling purists call “the real world championship.”

However, he will have to outmaneuver Van der Poel, who beat him in a sprint finish at Milan-San Remo on March 22.

"We saw it at Milan-San Remo—Mathieu is one of the best sprinters in the peloton," said the 26-year-old Slovenian. "Flanders is a very different race. But if there's a sprint, I'll do my best."

"At Flanders, if I feel good, I'll have more chances to avoid such a finish. It will be tiring, very tactical. Maybe Mathieu will be more tired than me after six hours," he added.

Massive Crowd, Local Rivals, And Thunderous Ambition

Pogacar said he plans to make the going as hard as possible and acknowledged that home-region riders might have an edge on the cobbles.

"With the crowd creating a unique atmosphere, it’s never difficult to push the pedals. It gives you a boost of adrenaline," said the three-time Tour de France winner.

He also issued a warning not to count out Wout van Aert, despite the Belgian’s tactical error in the Around Flanders race on Wednesday.

"Wout seems pretty good to me. He's on the pace," said Pogacar. "I didn’t see the race, but it seems they (Visma) made a mistake by being overconfident. He’ll be there on Sunday."