Mathieu van der Poel’s season steps up a degree at Tirreno-Adriatico as he appears for ‘the additional few %’ that may permit him to battle for the Spring Classics and tackle Tadej Pogačar.
Pogačar has opted to not trip Tirreno-Adriatico and can most effective race once more at Milan-San Remo as a part of his seven-week Classics marketing campaign. Wout Van Aert won’t even trip Los angeles Classicissima, opting to coach at altitude for 3 weeks in March to top for the Excursion of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
Van der Poel has most effective raced as soon as at the street thus far in 2025 after opting to focus on a 7th cyclocross global name in early February. He gained remaining week’s Le Samyn however is taking a distinct street to top shape.
He has spent the previous few weeks coaching in Spain and drowsing on the Syncrosfera altitude resort. Seven days of racing in Italy will permit him to check his shape and varnish his racing talents.
“I’ve done enough training. I need to race for my objectives that are coming up,” Van der Poel defined within the Tirreno-Adriatico pre-race press convention on Sunday in a wet Lido di Camaiore at the Tuscan coast.
Van der Poel gained 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 Vintage later on that 12 months. He’ll race with extra care and calculation this 12 months so he stays robust and recent for the Excursion of Flanders (April 6) and Paris-Roubaix (April 13).
He gained each Classics in 2024, plus E3 Saxo Vintage and completed 2d in Gent-Wevelgem after attacking all the way through Milan-San Remo to arrange teammate Jasper Philipsen for the dash in By means of Roma.
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Van der Poel most effective 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 12 months.
“I’m a big fan of altitude and training, for sure, but everybody has a different periodization,” he defined.
“We think it’s best to race now because my last percentages have always come from racing, so that’s why we do it this way again this year, like we did in the past. I think it’s something that has proven to be successful, so I have to trust it.”
The Dutchman celebrated his spouse’s birthday on Saturday and educated at house fairly than trip or watch Strade Bianche. He gained the Italian race in 2021 however was once glad to steer clear of it this 12 months.
“It’s a super nice race and I have good memories of my win but now it’s more of a climber’s race and I have to be realistic, my goals are elsewhere,” he mentioned.
“You have to make choices, you can’t ride everywhere. I want to be at my best in the goals 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 Excursion of Flanders. Van der Poel gained the 2023 Global Championships in Glasgow however Pogačar took the rainbow jersey in 2024. Their battles are anticipated to proceed this spring and past in some of the nice rivalries of the game.
Van der Poel was once inspired with Pogačar’s 3rd Strade Bianche victory. They’re other trajectories to but extra main proven down at Milan-San Remo after which within the cobbled Classics, with Pogačar possibly tempted to additionally invade Van der Poel’s terrain and trip Paris-Roubaix.
“It’s crazy how strong he is. So I think he’s a guy to watch now in cycling,” Van der Poel conceded.
Van der Poel and Pogačar are pleasant opponents and feature even educated in combination and swapped messages. There’s no malice of their contention.
“I think we have a pretty good relationship, and there’s a mutual respect between us,” he mentioned.
“There’s always been someone who dominates in cycling. The disadvantage of being so strong is that people always look at you in a different way and maybe support the underdog a bit more. It’s just how it is in sports.”
In idea, Van der Poel is the quicker sprinter of the 2, however the Classics don’t seem to be that logical as Van der Poel came upon within the 2023 Excursion of Flanders dash.
“I don’t fear him but of course, I know he’s going to be very difficult to beat. He dropped me once already in the Tour of Flanders when I was maybe at my best. So I think it’s also not something to be ashamed of if he beats me.
“We will see how robust he’s in each race he rides. It offers me numerous motivation to check out and beat him. For me, Pogačar is the man to overcome.”
