“A chance to make history” is how Peter van Petegem, who won both the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in the same year in 2003, views what is at stake for Mathieu van der Poel this afternoon as he battles to reconquer the Queen of the Classics for a second time in his career.
Already victorious in Paris-Roubaix in 2023, the Alpecin-Deceuninck racer’s third triumph in the Tour of Flanders last Sunday has opened the door for him to try to become the first rider since Fabian Cancellara in 2013 and eighth in history to conquer both Monuments in the same year.
And on Sunday to mark the occasion, French newspaper L’Équipe published a series of interviews with the most recent five riders to take the double – Rik van Looy in 1962, Roger de Vlaeminck in 1977, Peter van Petegem in 2003, Tom Boonen in 2005 and 2013 and Fabian Cancellara in 2010 and 2013.
“I don’t remember my two victories very well,” Van Looy, now 90, told L’Équipe, “but don’t forget I won Gent-Wevelgem, too, on the Wednesday inbetween!”
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