Van der Poel: Terror of Matthews in the sprint? I was really confident

Brabantse pijl Again bingo for Mathieu van der Poel. The Dutch champion has now also the Brabant Arrow on his list. “I was really confident,” sounded in the flashinterview.

Mathieu van der Poel escaped in the final lap with crackers as Julian Alaphilippe, Tim Wellens and Michael Matthews. Eventually sprinted world champion cyclo-cross in Overijse everyone out of the wheel. “I know that I soon am after a hard race,” began van der Poel after the end of his story.

“I have in the previous races several times my own sprint can't drive, because I too long remained seated. Here I was really confident. I knew that I had to enter”, told our northern neighbour, which today asked for the offensive chose. “I was hoping to quickly with a small group to get away, but that did not work. It was to wait until the big names went.”

High expectations in Amstel

“Or I in the end no terror had for Matthews? I think that I no one should fear in the sprint. Certainly not in such a arrival. Normally, it is the quickest and also Alaphilippe has already several sprints won. I rode with the slowest riders to the meet, but I felt that I still had a sprint in the house.”

By the triumph of today is Van der Poel, logically, even more favorite for the Amstel Gold Race next Sunday. “I put for myself the expectations are also high enough. But it is not because you are the Brabant Arrow wins, you also have the Amstel Gold Race wins. Now, the condition is already good. I look forward to it.”

Somewhat striking: the Dutchman was constantly coughing in the flashinterview. “I'm in the Lap of the Sarthe what cold become, all I have today is not a disruption. In the end I am very happy and proud to present this race to win, I was with three big names on the path. And so, is a bit like a dream. I also said in advance that this match me the best is, that I have today.”