Mathieu van der Poel will be among the favourites at Dwars door Vlaanderen ©Getty Images

Mathieu van der Poel will eye back-to-back victories at Dwars door Vlaanderen as the Belgian one-day race returns after a year absence.

The Dutch star triumphed at the race in 2019 from a breakaway, which marked his first triumph on the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour road circuit, amid successes in cyclo-cross and mountain bike events.

Van der Poel has earned numerous high-profile wins on the road since, including triumphs at the Amstel Gold race, the Tour of Flanders and this season’s Strade Bianche.

He will start among the favourites at Dwars door Vlaanderen along with France’s world champion Julian Alaphilippe.

The race was cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the health crisis is continuing to impact races.

Mathieu van der Poel won the race back in 2019 ©Getty Images
Mathieu van der Poel won the race back in 2019 ©Getty Images

BORA-hansgrohe and Trek-Segafredo are both expected to start the race, after the teams recorded negative COVID-19 tests.

Both had been forced out of Gent-Wevelgem due to COVID-19 cases and quarantines.

The 184.1 kilometre race is set to feature a series of smaller climbs, which could provide the launchpad for attacks.

The route also features cobbled sections, with the race set to finish outside the Zulte-Waregem football stadium.