Van der Poel about to see in the end: We got nothing. Until we take that last bend turned into...

Cycling How it's exactly in the Amstel Gold Race won? You had the Mathieu van der Poel (24) questions. No idea. “What an improbable denouement”, squeezed himself in Berg en Terblijt in the arm. “I fall from one surprise into the other, this spring.”

With his right hand he grabbed to his head. Schuddebollend flew Van der Poel on the Road to the finish. Unbelief, the heart of the Dutch delirium. "No, no... this can't be true’. And then he just behind the bend to stretch mount on the tarmac, in a trance, gasping for breath. It took the world champion cyclocross a handful of minutes to obtain — “I even had no strength to get my arms in the air to cross”. The first kiss was for... mommy Corinne.

Sufficient time for us to make this a moment to be able to grasp it. The first Dutch victory in the amstel Gold Race after a ‘drought’ of no less than eighteen years of age — Erik Dekker in 2001 the last. The second northern neighbour only after Michael Boogerd (1999) that the Amstel has won in the national kampioenentrui. Van der Poel is with Freddy Maertens (1976) and Philippe Gilbert (2011 and 2014) also the only rider in the Brabant Arrow and the amstel Gold Race in the same year wins. After Jan Raas (1982), Olaf Ludwig (1992) also only the third rider in the double-Dwars door Vlaanderen (ééndagskoers)-Amstel realizes. And with his 24 years and 92 days after Jacques Hanegraaf in 1984 (23 years and 129 days), the second youngest laureate of the Netherlands ' most Beautiful’.

And say that the acceleration on the Gulperberg, at 43 kilometers from the finish, not exactly the smartest ‘move’ seemed to be. “That was later also not,” nodded Van der Poel. “It seemed to me an excellent time to anticipate. I was hoping a few guys get along, then well-positioned the Pasture. The crucial point on the trail anyway.” But only Gorka Izagirre followed. “Such a pity”, he thought. The duo was absorbed and countered by Alaphilippe and Fuglsang. Van der Poel missed the good flight. There had, in any case, to all appearance to. “I kept quiet and tried to recover for the final.”

“Winds played important role”

The only, right decision. Because it made sure that Van der Poel in the end what reserve held. Just for the City and he went again. “For a dense place of honour, in the best case the stage”, reasoned he. Now he got or people. “One minute, was our backlog. No one in the group who are still in the victory believed. Also, I do not. So I thought: I save me up to that last turn and sprint again to the full.” To be sure, asked him he to three kilometers from the finish again. ‘Who is exactly first? And how much is the bonus?’ “No one from the follow - or radiocommunicatiewagen me a conclusive answer could give. On tv it was obvious in the picture, but we got nothing. When we take that last bend turned into, I saw the front runners on the Road to my own astonishment a hundred meters to our exit. Then I'm ‘engaged’, 300, 400 metres from the finish line. Of a lot too far, actually. Apparently I was the only one that has all-or-nothing dared to play. Win or lose. I was rewarded for it. The wind played an important role, I think. Crosswind. It made me my speed up on the mark could persist.”

:man biking: | Mathieu van der Poel wins the Amstel Gold Race!!!#MvdP #AGR #Klasbak pic.twitter.com/tIx8kndsw0

Eurosport, the Netherlands(@ Eurosport_NL) link

While he told it, could Van der Poel still not believe. “I realize it's not all that good, no. (laughs) And that happens to me not often. To be honest: this is a feeling I never had before." Or not sin is that he with this form can't pass through to Liege-Bastogne-Liege? “No. That is a total other game. I felt today also not so good during the first koershelft. That first heat it was still 25 degrees — took me a bit of pain. But when the what faster went, I saw some big names parking. ‘Okay,’ I thought. "I'm not the only one who has difficulties’.” Nevertheless, it is a signal, according to Van der Poel. “I am now a bit of rest. Or rather, to move, because I go with my girlfriend, Roxanne, live in ’s-Gravenwezel. When I get away from it all will be and can recover from the hectic, loaded spring. A good week anyway. Then I get the mountain bike of the stable. For about a month already waiting for the first world cup race in Albstadt.”