Adrie van der Poel praises Mathieu: “Then you can look in the mirror and be very proud”

Pogacar and Van der Poel had already blown the race apart on the penultimate passage of the Oude Kwaremont, before Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) was distanced. To keep the Belgian there, Van der Poel also did his turns at the front, which set up a one-on-one battle heading toward the final run over the Kwaremont and Paterberg.

“Good, I think so. He was where he needed to be and he gave a better impression than in Milan-Sanremo. There he was good, but not as good as today.”

“Everyone was spent, because that wind certainly didn’t make it any easier today. The race had already opened up with 100 kilometers to go, and then you know it’s going to be a difficult job. But yes, it was simply a very strong performance.”

“You simply have to do your turns. You can sit on the wheel, but I wouldn’t have appreciated that. They are great champions among themselves, so you just race all the way to the finish and then you naturally see whether you get dropped or not. I think that is how those guys look at it too, there is a lot of mutual respect. It was simply a wonderful race.”

“That’s true, but riding over the cobbles is the same as riding uphill. If there is nothing left in the legs, then it’s over. It will be a very different race, and maybe the gaps will be slightly smaller. That is why you also have to keep doing your work and be proud of what you achieve, because the differences really are not that big. And maybe things can improve a little in the future.”

“He doesn’t have to win it as far as I’m concerned. People say that often, but what Mathieu is doing is unique. In virtually all the classics that suit him, he has been finishing in the top ten throughout his entire career. Then you can look in the mirror and be very proud.”

“No, not even then would he win here. And later on you would only be presented with the bill for that.”

Bram van der Ploeg ( X: @BvdPloegg | email : [email protected])