Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) capped off a profitable spring marketing campaign with victories at E3 Classics, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix however mentioned {that a} third place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège was the perfect he may do towards a rider like Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates).
“I’m real looking sufficient. I do know that if Pogačar has a great day, I can’t comply with him, not even with my greatest legs, which is regular,” Van der Poel mentioned in a post-race interview with Cycling Pro Net.
“We additionally know that he can have a foul day, or a minimum of I hope he can have a foul day. He was spectacular once more at present, and I believe my Classics season was greater than profitable. I’m actually joyful to finish up on the rostrum right here at present.”
Van der Poel got here into his Spring Classics off the again of successful a sixth cyclocross world title in Tabor in February.
Asked if peaking for a greater than six-week interval might need affected his efficiency at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Van der Poel mentioned that whereas he understands that it’s tough to mix the cobbled Classics with the Ardennes Classics, he most well-liked to stay real looking about his efficiency in comparison with Pogačar on such a difficult route.
“It is feasible. I could have underestimated the decompression after the Ronde and Roubaix. The primary factor is that I’m already coaching and peaking from cyclocross and that makes it a protracted interval to go to Liège,” Van der Poel mentioned.
“Like I mentioned, even with my greatest form, it might be tough to comply with Tadej. It’s additionally not a disgrace; everybody has his races, and I did what I needed to do in mine.”
Pogačar received his sixth profession Monument after attacking up the La Redoute and soloing 34km to the end line, taking the win by 1:39 forward of runner-up Romain Bardet (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL).
Van der Poel completed third place at 2:02 again, a consequence that shocked even himself after he was caught behind a small crash that held up a portion of the peloton on a steep climb with about 100km to go.
He mentioned the trouble he put forth within the chase was tough, and he did not assume they’d make it again to the entrance of the race.
“I’m joyful as a result of I did not assume I’d get a podium spot till about 5km to go, so I believe everybody noticed that this was the very best doable [result] for me at present,” Van der Poel mentioned, providing a proof about how he ended up behind the crash.
“It was a giant, huge effort. I used to be simply going again to get my leg heaters and gloves. And then a crash occurred. Then, the highway was blocked. I believed we have been by no means going to see the entrance race once more, and I used to be joyful that after a protracted pursuit, we got here again, however I already felt that my legs have been drained a bit.
“But even with the legs of Ronde and Roubaix, I do not assume I may have adopted Pogačar.”
