Mathieu van der Poel aims at another succesful spring campaign: "It's a shame the feeling of winning lasts so shortly"
Mathieu van der Poel will largely stick to the same formula this season as in his previous successful years. His biggest goals are once again the spring classics, he revealed in the WHOOP Podcast.
"My goals are somewhat the same as in recent years: first build up through cyclocross and then focus on the big spring classics," said Van der Poel, who won Milan-Sanremo, Paris-Roubaix, and the E3 Saxo Classic and finished second in the Tour of Flanders last year.
The 31-year-old rider from Alpecin-Premier Tech also shared his view on what the key skills are in his beloved spring classics. "In long climbs at the Tour de France, the strongest riders often win, but in the classics the situation changes constantly. Positioning is therefore incredibly important, and that’s what makes it exciting for me. When the course transitions from wide roads to narrow climbs, you need to be in the top twenty, because if you’re too far back it’s impossible to be in the front group. That’s something you can learn and requires experience, but having a strong team is also important."
"Trying to enjoy it more as I get older"
When asked about his favorite race, his answer is thus not surprising. "When I first rode the Tour of Flanders, I immediately loved it. The race suits me and the atmosphere is fantastic. It’s the biggest race I can win along with Paris-Roubaix. Those are the races I watched as a kid and always dreamed of winning," said the three-time winner of the Tour of Flanders.
Paris-Roubaix, which Van der Poel has also won three times, holds a special place in his heart as well. "It’s incomparable. It’s so tough because of the cobbles. With the velodrome finish, it’s also unique. All cyclocross riders want to race it because it’s supposed to be similar to cross, but I don’t agree with that. It’s the toughest one-day race. Winning races like this never becomes routine. Milan-Sanremo might be the hardest to win. The feeling you get when you actually win it is indescribable. It’s a shame it’s over so quickly. I’m trying to enjoy it more as I get older. One day, I won’t be racing anymore."
