In Roubaix he was “vomiting in the car,” but now Tim van Dijke helped lay the foundations for Remco Evenepoel’s Amstel victory

Van Dijke was given the job of taking charge at the front. It was not immediately visible on television, but from kilometre zero the powerful rouleur was drilling it on the front to keep the gap to the breakaway as small as possible. After the race, Evenepoel was full of praise for the work done by his teammate.

Tim, you trained with Remco a lot over the winter. How often did the Amstel Gold Race come up then?
“About a lot of things, but not about the Amstel Gold Race.”

And over the past few days?
“Fortunately, I had a bit more energy, because I was pretty ill during Paris-Roubaix. That really took its toll, and that was also the reason I rode on the front from kilometre zero, which luckily went well. That way, I could do something useful for the team.

“We made no secret of the fact that we wanted to take the initiative. When you have the absolute top favorite in your team, you have to take responsibility. And as a team, we did that flat out.

“It is not easy to control everything from the start without help from other teams. I am very happy that we got what we deserved.”

When you dropped him off was there still contact then?
“Not really, actually. I dropped the guys off before the first time up the Cauberg and at that point my job was done. In a moment like that, the guys are focused on what they have to do, it is super hectic, and there is not much time to talk. That comes after the race.”

Was the Kruisberg the agreed point to try something?
“Of course, we had to use all those climbs to make it hard. The Kruisberg, the Eyserbosweg and everything that comes after, so we could put the rest under pressure and launch Remco. I did not see anything myself, but I assume they did a good job.”

With what kind of feeling do you end your own spring?
“With a very good feeling. With the legs I had, there could have been even more good results. Roubaix was ultimately a huge disappointment for me, but I think I really took a very big step this year. I feel there is still more to come, and then I can compete to win.”

I saw you ride through the mixed zone in Flanders, and I have rarely seen you look that empty. Is that where the illness before Roubaix came from?
“That is right. I went so deep there. I had to shape the front group, ride into the important points and then, after 260 kilometres, I had to let go while racing for sixth place.

“It was my best race of the spring, but I rode myself so completely empty. I think I picked something up there, and I also needed three days to recover. That really was not normal. I got ill somewhere there, which was really frustrating.”

How exactly did that Roubaix day go for you, alongside Mick, who is also here and finished sixth there.
“If you are throwing up from the first hour and then you are vomiting in the car, with everything that follows, then of course it is a huge disappointment. I had worked incredibly hard to be ready for Roubaix and to show what I could do, so when that does not work out because of illness, that is a real shame...”

Now you end this long spring — from that second place in Omloop — with victory in the Amstel Gold Race. How will you celebrate it?
“I will take a little moment... My family and friends are here, and tonight we will have a nice dinner and drink some wine.”