'I’m not going to wait for an attack' – Jasper Stuyven hopes to put Soudal-QuickStep’s classics campaign back on course at the Tour of Flanders

Jasper Stuyven, the Lidl-Trek rider, has publicly stated his intention to ride an aggressive Tour of Flanders, declaring he "won't wait for an attack." This comes as Soudal-QuickStep, the perennial Belgian powerhouse, faces increasing pressure to deliver a significant result in the cobbled Monuments, having struggled to assert their usual dominance in recent seasons. Stuyven, a former Milan-San Remo winner, aims to capitalise on what he perceives as a more open race dynamic this Sunday.

This declaration from Stuyven isn't just pre-race bravado; it underscores a shifting landscape in the Classics. Soudal-QuickStep, once the undisputed 'Wolfpack' of the cobbles, has seen their grip loosen considerably since the departure of key figures like Philippe Gilbert and Niki Terpstra, and the rise of multi-talented riders like Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. Their recent Classics campaigns have been notably devoid of Monument victories, a stark contrast to their historical pedigree, leaving them desperately seeking a return to form at *De Ronde*.

Stuyven's approach, therefore, is less a bold prediction and more a pragmatic assessment of the current pecking order. The 'Wolfpack' may still howl, but the other predators are no longer waiting for an invitation to hunt.