With his 3rd overall victory in the Tour of Flanders, Mathieu van der Poel already has 5 monuments on his list of achievements. And 2 more could be added this spring. “But the Tour of Flanders is the race that suits me best,” says the world champion.
He was completely exhausted on Sunday afternoon, when he crossed the line first in the Tour of Flanders for the 3rd time in his career. “The most difficult I have ever ridden,” Mathieu van der Poel said after the race in the Sporza studio.
Difficult or not, the Dutchman’s record in Flanders Most Beautiful since 2019 is astonishing: 4th, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 2nd and 1st.
“I think this is the race with the very best, yes. And if you like to race somewhere, that also plays a role.”
With his third victory in the Tour of Flanders, Van der Poel now already has 5 monuments, after he also won Milan-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix last year. There could be two more this spring, with Roubaix next week and on April 21 (probably) also Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
I know that I probably won’t be able to follow when the top riders are at their best in Liège, but the race still has to be ridden.
Mathieu van der Poel
Striking: in the run-up to Roubaix, Van der Poel first spends a few days in the Spanish sun. The Dutchman boarded a plane to Spain on Sunday evening, in order to get to the start in the Helle Classic in the best possible condition.
And Liège-Bastogne-Liège? “That is not yet 100 percent certain, but there is a chance,” says Van der Poel, who is already looking forward to the showdown with top players such as Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel. “They will find a course there that is tailor-made for them. It will be difficult, but I like to try.”
“I am realistic enough to know that I probably won’t be able to follow when they are at the top. But the race still has to be run. You never know what race situation will arise.”
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2024-04-01 09:08:37
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