FILE PHOTO: Cycling - Tour de France - Stage 21 - Monaco to Nice - Monaco, France - July 21, 2024 Alpecin - Deceuninck's Mathieu Van Der Poel crosses the finish line after stage 21 REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo
PARIS (Reuters) - Mathieu van der Poel had a below-par Tour de France, failing to show his usual brilliance, but Saturday's dog-eat-dog Olympic road race might bring the predator out of the world champion.
The Dutchman's resistance on long distances and his brutal attacks on short, steep hills will make him the man to beat on the 273-km course in and around Paris that will finish at the Trocadero, a stone's throw from the Eiffel Tower.
With teams featuring a maximum of four riders - compared to eight on the Tour - the race will be hard to control, which could also favour Van der Poel.
"With those small teams, it's a bit of a wait-and-see situation for me, but it does look like it could be an uncontrolled race,” the 29-year-old, a three-time Tour of Flanders and twice Paris-Roubaix champion, said.
"It depends on the legs, but I would say it's an advantage for me. You have to be on your guard at every moment of the race. It could happen suddenly, and then you'll have to make sure you're there."
Given Van der Poel's flair, it would be astonishing if he would be caught by surprise on a route going through the Vallee de Chevreuse before a final circuit on the streets of the capital, including a punishing climb up to the Butte Montmartre.
Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar pulled out citing fatigue while defending champion Richard Carapaz was not selected by Ecuador.
Some other top names, however, will be there, starting with Belgians Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert, who took gold and bronze in the individual time trial, respectively.
Their rivalry, however, could cost them if their four-man team does not work together.
That is unlikely to be the case for France, who are rallying behind Julian Alaphilippe after the two-time world champion appeared to be getting back to his best level.
"I've had an ideal preparation, Alaphilippe told reporters.
"I feel good and motivated. I don't see myself as a favourite, but to tell you the truth, I don't think about that, I don't think about where I stand in relation to the others.
"I'm here to give my all for the French team. It's a goal that I take very seriously."
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Toby Davis)
