Mathieu van der Poel believes that the potential for chaos within the males’s street race on the Paris 2024 Olympics may play to his benefit. Saturday’s race could have a subject of simply 90 riders, and no single workforce is probably going to have the ability to management the peloton throughout its 273km.
“With these small groups, it is a bit of a wait-and-see scenario for me, nevertheless it does appear to be it might be an uncontrolled race,” Van der Poel informed Wielerflits. “It is dependent upon the legs, however I might say it is a bonus for me. You need to be in your guard at each second of the race. It may occur instantly, after which it’s important to ensure you’re there.”
Van der Poel will line up as one of many excellent favourites for the gold medal, alongside Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert, and residential hope Julian Alaphilippe.
“The position of favorite isn’t that dangerous,” Van der Poel mentioned. “In a Classic, it’s actually a bit extra predictable, as a result of you have got your individual workforce with you that may assist management the race. That’s the large distinction, however the objective itself stays the identical.”
The Dutchman will hope to duplicate his efficiency eventually 12 months’s World Championships in Glasgow, when he claimed the rainbow jersey with a devastating long-range assault. Like final summer season, Van der Poel warmed up for the title race by driving the Tour de France primarily within the service of his Alpecin-Deceuninck teammate Jasper Philipsen, serving to to tee up a hat-trick of stage wins.
Van der Poel’s personal kind stays one thing of a thriller, although he has loved a outstanding season so far within the rainbow jersey. Although he raced simply seven occasions earlier than the Tour, Van der Poel collected crushing victories on the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and E3 Harelbeke, in addition to podium finishes at Gent-Wevelgem and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
“I got here out of the Tour more energizing, however that does not imply I’ll have the legs from the Glasgow World Championships once more,” Van der Poel mentioned. “Every 12 months is totally different, after all. I’ve caught to the preparation I had for Glasgow – not precisely the identical, however you continue to maintain it in thoughts.”
Van der Poel confirmed that he would forgo the chance to reconnoitre the ending circuit, which is centred on the quick, sharp climb up Montmartre. He cited the velocity restrictions in place for Thursday’s official reconnaissance window, the place cyclists needed to trip the circuit in a convoy at a most velocity of 30kph. Van der Poel most popular to coach on Thursday within the neighborhood of his resort in Saint-Lambert, southwest of Paris.
“I do not suppose it is helpful in any respect. It solely is smart to do it at the next racing velocity,” Van der Poel mentioned of the recon, in response to AD. “I do not suppose it is well worth the effort to journey there for an hour and a half. I’d reasonably select a coaching session right here after which relaxation.
“Of course, I might have most popular to see it myself, however these are concerns. But I actually have a good suggestion of it. There are a number of movies, and the nationwide coach offers us all the knowledge. Normally, that climb ought to swimsuit me properly. The ambition to win right here may be very large.”
Van der Poel has by no means beforehand competed within the street race on the Olympics, having centered on the mountain occasion in Tokyo. After crashing out of that occasion three years in the past, Van der Poel had lengthy toyed with the thought of driving each the mountain bike and the street race in Paris. He in the end opted to focus solely on the street race, however he indicated that he would possibly goal the mountain bike once more in Los Angeles in 2028.
“I really by no means trip a mountain bike anymore, sadly, not even for enjoyable,” Van der Poel mentioned. “The final time was throughout the take a look at occasion for the Olympics in September. But sure, I do take into consideration the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 4 years’ time, and making mountain biking a giant objective there. By then I will likely be on the finish of my profession with one other very good objective.”
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