Mathieu van der Poel’s season steps up a stage at Tirreno-Adriatico as he seems to be for ‘the additional few %’ that can permit him to combat for the Spring Classics and tackle Tadej Pogačar.
Pogačar has opted to not trip Tirreno-Adriatico and can solely race once more at Milan-San Remo as a part of his seven-week Classics marketing campaign. Wout Van Aert is not going to even trip La Classicissima, opting to coach at altitude for 3 weeks in March to peak for the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
Van der Poel has solely raced as soon as on the street to date in 2025 after opting to focus on a seventh cyclocross world title in early February. He received final week’s Le Samyn however is taking a distinct street to peak type.
He has spent the previous couple of weeks coaching in Spain and sleeping on the Syncrosfera altitude resort. Seven days of racing in Italy will permit him to check his type and polish his racing abilities.
“I’ve accomplished sufficient coaching. I must race for my targets which can be arising,” Van der Poel defined within the Tirreno-Adriatico pre-race press convention on Sunday in a wet Lido di Camaiore on the Tuscan coast.
Van der Poel received two phases at Tirreno-Adriatico in 2021 but in addition went too deep in lengthy assaults within the rain and didn’t win a Spring Classic afterward that yr. He will race with extra care and calculation this yr so he stays sturdy and contemporary for the Tour of Flanders (April 6) and Paris-Roubaix (April 13).
He received each Classics in 2024, plus E3 Saxo Classic and completed second in Gent-Wevelgem after attacking throughout Milan-San Remo to arrange teammate Jasper Philipsen for the dash in Via Roma.
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Van der Poel solely began racing at Milan-San Remo in 2024 however he has most popular so as to add per week of racing at Tirreno-Adriatico this yr.
“I’m a giant fan of altitude and coaching, for certain, however all people has a distinct periodization,” he defined.
“We suppose it is best to race now as a result of my final percentages have all the time come from racing, in order that’s why we do it this manner once more this yr, like we did previously. I believe it is one thing that has confirmed to achieve success, so I’ve to belief it.”
The Dutchman celebrated his accomplice’s birthday on Saturday and skilled at residence slightly than trip or watch Strade Bianche. He received the Italian race in 2021 however was completely happy to keep away from it this yr.
“It’s an excellent good race and I’ve good recollections of my win however now it is extra of a climber’s race and I’ve to be sensible, my objectives are elsewhere,” he mentioned.
“You need to make decisions, you’ll be able to’t trip in every single place. I need to be at my greatest within the objectives I set.”
Van der Poel dropped Pogačar to win Milan-San Remo in 2023 however then misplaced to him in a dash on the 2023 Tour of Flanders. Van der Poel received the 2023 World Championships in Glasgow however Pogačar took the rainbow jersey in 2024. Their battles are anticipated to proceed this spring and past in one of many nice rivalries of the game.
Van der Poel was impressed with Pogačar’s third Strade Bianche victory. They are totally different trajectories to but extra main proven down at Milan-San Remo after which within the cobbled Classics, with Pogačar maybe tempted to additionally invade Van der Poel’s terrain and trip Paris-Roubaix.
“It’s loopy how sturdy he’s. So I believe he is a man to look at now in biking,” Van der Poel conceded.
Van der Poel and Pogačar are pleasant rivals and have even skilled collectively and swapped messages. There isn’t any malice of their rivalry.
“I believe we now have a fairly good relationship, and there is a mutual respect between us,” he mentioned.
“There’s all the time been somebody who dominates in biking. The drawback of being so sturdy is that folks all the time have a look at you another way and possibly help the underdog a bit extra. It’s simply how it’s in sports activities.”
In principle, Van der Poel is the sooner sprinter of the 2, however the Classics will not be that logical as Van der Poel found within the 2023 Tour of Flanders dash.
“I do not concern him however in fact, I do know he’ll be very tough to beat. He dropped me as soon as already within the Tour of Flanders after I was possibly at my greatest. So I believe it is also not one thing to be ashamed of if he beats me.
“We can see how sturdy he’s in each race he rides. It provides me numerous motivation to try to beat him. For me, Pogačar is the man to beat.”
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