For the first time, this sunday, a Norwegian won Belgium’s Ronde van Vlanderen (Tour of Flanders). Alexander Kristoff entered cycling history. After his winning last year’s edition of Milano-Sanremo, the Katusha rider had just won his second monument.

He's only 27 years old and will certainly dethrone Thor Hushovd, who retired at the end of 2014, won the 2010 road world championship, the 2006 Gent-Wevelgem, and 10 individual Tour de France stages. “Maybe Thor sits on top with the worlds title, something easily recognizable in Norway, but Alexander is arriving,” Anders Christiansen, a journalist for Norway’s VG, told VeloNews. “Kristoff, with two monuments in hand and two Tour stages, is nearly the best we have ever had. And he’ll have his chance at a worlds title in the next two years because both the Richmond and Qatar courses suit him.”

“Thor made it big in Norway with his wins. And he remains huge because of his charisma,” Christiansen added. “Alexander can do the same. He is not there yet, but he is on the same level. He talks about doping. He’s not afraid to speak.”

Kristoff know that he was not the most speed in the peloton, but he shows that he became a great rider. “Someone like Marcel Kittel is faster, but not as strong when the road undulates so much. It’s hard that he doesn’t win when it’s flat and 200 kilometers, but we are talking about classics, 250km and often with cobblestones.”

He concluded: “It’s maybe the best week in my career.”