Gain rhythm and then see where the ship is stranding. Mathieu van der Poel starts the Renewi Tour without too high expectations on Wednesday. His main goal is to sharpen his condition. At the presentation of his team in Terneuzen, he also made it clear that he sees this five -day game in preparation for the World Mountainbike World Cup.
The 30-year-old Dutchman of Alpecin-DECEUNINCK returns to the peloton in the Dutch/Belgian stage race after he had to leave the Tour de France prematurely due to pneumonia. Last Sunday’s professional race in Etten-Leur was his first game since the premature departure from the Tour de France.
“For me it is a question mark with which legs I am at the start after that pneumonia. It will be waiting. I now first put the focus on this journey race, only then do I switch to the World Cup,” Van der Poel said.
“I really need this stage race in preparation for the World Cup. I estimate my chances of winning there, but there is always a chance,” said the driver, who already collected seven world titles in cyclocross and became world champion on the road in 2023.
Although Van der Poel has labeled the World Mountainbike World Championship in Crans-Montana, Switzerland (on September 14) as the main goal of this fall, he does not just want to ride in the Renewi Tour until Sunday: “I will not come here as a platoon filling. If I see opportunities to win again.