Despite having an early season preparations marred by illness and crash, and lack of victories so far this year, Fabian Cancellera proved in his last performances than he will be ready to line up at Ronde van Vlaanderen as a main favorite to take the spoils on Sunday. Known for his fondness for playing mental games with his rivals, the 33-year old Swiss tried to put the pressure on a decade younger contender to victory – Peter Sagan (Cannondale), claiming that his experience would be a decisive factor on hilly Flemish parcours.

With two Ronde van Vlaanderen titles already in his palmares, Cancellara will be keen to equal a record number of three victories in the Flemish monument, shared by Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) and four other riders.

The victory itself on Sunday is certainly more important for the Trek Factory Racing captain than improving on his records in the event, however it seems impossible for the classics specialist to be unaware if the situation.

“Maybe now because you mention it. I wasn’t thinking on that. I was just thinking about the race and not the side effects. Thank you for mentioning it.”

Because of a early season delay in relation to his training programme and lack of victories so far this year, Cancellara admitted to be concerned about his readiness to contend for a glory in the cobbled monuments, but eventually managed to regain his typical confidence and concentration.

“During training, or better cruising, it was weird. I was not happy. There were a lot of questions. ‘Am I ready?’ There were a lot of questions I could not answer. Then I had a few phone calls and some chats with people who know. All the questions I had were answered. That’s why I’m really relaxed. Since Tuesday I’m fully concentrated. That was a very big key point. In the end it’s just a bike race with a number on your back. I have won it and can handle the pressure. Other riders haven’t won it and waste energy because they lack the experience. It’s everything around it, including the thousands, millions of people who are watching it.”

Despite the mentioned lack of victories this season, Cancellara’s concern about his disposition seems an overstatement after his truly impressive showing in the E3 Harelbelke last week.

“It’s the win that stands out. I often came here after winning [E3] Harelbeke in a special way. I come to this Tour of Flanders without a big win, but even without a win I know how to win it,” Cancellara said.

This time around, it’s Peter Sagan to enter the competition as the E3 Harelbeke winner today, but the Swiss rider claims that such situation do not exactly work in favour of the Cannondale rider, as the huge pressure cannot be balanced by a necessary and reassuring amount of experience in his case.

“He has not won this race. It’s twice as hard for him. I know his qualities but also his weaknesses. If you don’t do something it’s not possible to win. I’m lucky to have won this race on multiple occasions already. I have the experience. I know what it takes.”

While a big clash between Cancellara and Boonen in cobbles monuments has been highly anticipated since a very promising performances in the early season by the latter, the Swiss rider plays down the chances of such encounter to take place on a hilly Flemish parcours today.

Although the Trek Factory Racing leader doesn’t rule out that, despite his personal problems and obvious struggles to keep up the pace after returning to competition, Boonen will be there exactly when it would be necessary, he expects different kind of battle to take place this time around.

“It’s been two months now that people talk about it. He will be there despite his personal problems. In every big race he was there. I expect a battle with him but also with other big riders. Like so many big duels they often don’t happen. There will be a big battle but it’ll be a different battle,” Cancellara said.

And by saying that, Cancellara quickly points out to the riders in likes of Sagan, Jürgen Roelandts (Lotto-Belisol), Sep Vanmarcke (Belkin) and probably most impressive so far Niki Terpstra (Omega Pharma-Quick Steps) as main contenders to shine in the Ronde van Vlaanderen today.

“The biggest wow-moment up until now in the Spring Classics was from Niki Terpstra at Dwars door Vlaanderen,” Cancellara said.

“The amount of riders with a top condition is large. I have to focus on myself. Get the best out of myself. Too much looking around is not good. It takes you off balance. The big thing for me is that I can be relaxed on Sunday at the start. The last few races there have been so many riders injured and sick, things have changed and that’s why I haven’t looked so much at these races. I did the right choice.”

Cancellara will have an extremely strong support in person of Stijn Devolder, who himself won the Ronde twice, when he lines up at the start in Brugge today, and even though the hierarchy in Trek Factory Racing team is absolutely clear the Swiss riders feels reassured with another strong card to play in the race.

“It’s even a better situation for me. Stijn gives me and the team another card. Of course I come to the start line and want to win but in the end the team wants to win. In the past everybody was looking at me. Everybody goes behind me. We took note of that and for us it’s a better situation. The biggest stress will be on other riders,” Cancellara said.