Even if the course promises to be very demanding, Mathieu van der Poel’s competitors do not want to underestimate the Dutchman before the road race of the world championships.
The galactics have another meeting. Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel will compete this Sunday in the road race of the world championships. And if the Zurich course seems to suit the Slovenian and the Belgian better, neither wants to underestimate the Dutchman, winner last year in Glasgow.
“Van der Poel will be in the race. We cannot cross his name off the list. He can be dangerous if he’s having a good day.”believes Pogacar. « He is heavier than Tadej and me, it’s a small disadvantage for him, analyzes Evenepoel for his part. The last time I made a sortie à velo with Mathieu (2 or 3 weeks ago), he was not climbing very well. But he’s a runner who can reachre in peak form like no other. “
Van der Poel can win
To find out a little more, Wielerflits went to ask Adrie van der Poel, the father of the reigning world champion, for his opinion.
“There are two clear favorites with Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel, but this year you have a large number of outsiders, ten to fifteen riders if you ask me, confides the former winner of the Tour of Flanders.
These two demonstrated what they could do in their field at the Olympics and the Montreal GP. »
Among the outsiders, Adrie van der Poel cites the names of Primoz Roglic and Marc Hirschi and also mentions the Danes. But he didn’t talk about his son. “Can Mathieu win? Yes, everything is possible, he thinks though. But you also have to be realistic. If everyone reaches their usual level, it might be difficult. But there is always a chance. I am also convinced that Mathieu felt that if he did not consider himself capable of going far, he would not have come. But he is there. »
