Cycling-Pidcock can trouble 'three kings' in Flanders, says Gilbert

FILE PHOTO: 2022 European Championships - Cycling Mountain Bike - Olympiapark Mountain Bike Course, Munich, Germany - August 19, 2022 Britain's Tom Pidcock celebrates on the podium after winning gold in the men's cross-country final REUTERS/Lukas Barth

(Reuters) - Britain's Tom Pidcock could gatecrash what is expected to be a battle between cycling's so-called Three Kings and snatch victory in the Tour of Flanders this weekend, according to former winner Philippe Gilbert.

Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel will be favourite to win the iconic Belgian classic for a third time in four years if he finishes in front of Belgium's Wout van Aert and Slovenian Tadej Pogacar over the 273km route.