Mathieu van der Poel and new World Champion Demi Vollering compared course notes at the team hotel: 'I'll ride on instinct'
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Follow us on GoogleOn Saturday evening, the party was already in full swing at the Hotel van Nederland—or at least for a little while. The women—led by winner Demi Vollering—stopped back briefly for a burger, but then had to head straight back to the airport for their flight back to the Netherlands. Still, Saturday’s results are encouraging for the male competitors as well. Mathieu van der Poel spoke at the start in Brossard.
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Van der Poel had already had a chat with Vollering during Wednesday’s reconnaissance. Together, they agreed that it was a perfect course. “He said, ‘I think it could be tough, but just right for me—in the sense that it’s not too tough.’” "And I definitely think he’s right," Vollering had already said.
"It's a little different for the women, though, because the pace slows down a bit and the climbs take longer as a result."
"That's always the best part, because in the end, the strongest riders always come out on top. For riders like Mathieu or me, who also do well in the spring classics, that's usually the best-case scenario," Vollering told us.
Read more below the photo!
Mathieu van der Poel and Demi Vollering during the reconnaissance run.
Van der Poel on Vollering's World Championship victory
The FDJ-Suez rider proved on Saturday that they were right. Van der Poel was watching on TV, too. It’s great to see them win, of course, but it’s still a different kind of race. She’s also won the Tour, so that says something. It was a very strong performance, especially since she managed to bounce back after being caught.
"Mentally, that's something you can't underestimate—finding the morale to give it your all again," explains Van der Poel, who says he didn't pay much attention to the women's race.
"Above all, it's just going to be a very tough World Championship for every type of rider, and it's just going to be really difficult. But I've been saying that for a long time," says VDP.
"I'm just hoping for an amazing day, because a good day alone won't be enough," he realises. "And then I'll ride on instinct, like I always do. I have to try to pick the right moment to make my move and then hope that I'm in the right place for the decisive attack."
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Tom van der Salm (27) comes from the charming town of Zeilberg (Deurne) in the Netherlands and has been working as editor-in-chief & journalist at IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, In de Leiderstrui, since 2019. He travels with the peloton from the Tour de France to the AlUla Tour and from the World Championships in Rwanda or Canada to the Zilvermeercross in Mol. In his spare time he enjoys playing football, mountain biking, running, walking with his Labrador/Stabyhoun, investing, holidays, (specialty) beers, reading, cooking and watching sports & documentaries!
Contact: [email protected]
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