Van der Poel 'completely fucked' after "toughest Tour of Flanders ever": "I rode to the finish with my eyes closed"

Mathieu van der Poel appeared to be breezing through the Tour of Flanders on Sunday like it was nothing, but the world champion had to push beyond his limits to secure his win. After the race, the Dutch Alpecin-Deceuninck rider admitted he found himself isolated earlier than anticipated, leading to a grueling finish.

"It was about survival today; this is the toughest Tour of Flanders I've ridden, given the weather conditions," Van der Poel gasped, with a grimace on his face. "Those last twenty kilometers, I rode to the finish with my eyes closed. I was so exhausted, I couldn't really think much."

"I need to reflect on everything that happened, but the rain especially made those cobblestones tricky," he explained. "The Koppenberg was really about sliding and slipping all the way to the top. It doesn't surprise me that they had to walk. I had a decent gap, but with the wind, it was still a long way to go alone. I rode as hard as I could, but by the end, I was totally spent."

Van der Poel thanks team after perfectly executed strategy

"The second time up the Kwaremont was the first time I really pushed," said Van der Poel, who until then seemed coolly calculated, even as riders like Mads Pedersen made their moves. "The team did a fantastic job. I wanted to keep everything together until the Koppenberg, where I planned to make a difference. I just didn't expect to find myself alone there."

Van der Poel had to continue solo over the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg. "At the top of the second Kwaremont, I didn't really feel great anymore. Luckily, I managed to find my rhythm again," he says, flashing a grin after what has already been a fantastic season for him. "My season is already a success. Winning the Tour of Flanders in the rainbow jersey is a dream come true. I need to let that sink in. I can't even think about Paris-Roubaix right now, I'm completely wrecked. This was one of the toughest races I've ever done, I was completely drained."