Van der Poel ready for E3 start despite painful hand injury after Milan-Sanremo

There is no hiding the fact that the hand has caused him problems. It was bleeding heavily at the finish in Sanremo, and the wound has still not fully healed. “It’s a bit of an annoying injury, although that may be putting it too strongly,” Van der Poel told Sporza. “It’s an awkward wound on my hand and nail. It’s not very pleasant to ride with, but it’s manageable.”

So nobody should expect the former world champion to be seriously held back in the E3 Saxo Classic. “Saying that I’m in pain would be too much. Again, it’s more uncomfortable and quite annoying, because it will take a little while. There’s a hole in the nail and it takes time for that to close up again, but I can ride with it. That’s the most important thing.”

Last year, Van der Poel won with a brilliant solo after accelerating on the Oude Kwaremont, although the race, as so often, had already started to open up on the Taaienberg. “I don’t think today will be any different. I see Mads Pedersen as my main rival. A bit like last year as well, with the usual names.”

It is not so long ago that Van der Poel was battling Tadej Pogačar and Wout van Aert in E3, but neither of them will be at the start this time. The Slovenian is taking a break after his show of strength in Milan-Sanremo, while Van Aert is also absent from the race. Was that defeat in Italy a mental blow for the Dutchman? “Nothing happened that I didn’t expect. Everybody knows how exceptionally Tadej Pogačar is riding, and he proved that once again.”