Van der Poel sees himself not as a favourite for the Tour: almost 100 kilometers longer

Championships Mathieu van der Poel pulls with a handsome victory in the bag to the Tour of Flanders. The 24-year-old Dutch champion showed himself to be the best in Dwars door Vlaanderen and put many more stars behind his name for the Tour of Flanders, he sees that itself is different.

Van der Poel showed himself in his second WorldTour race for the first time on the Knokteberg, where he team-mate Dries De Bondt reed. “We had Dries vooruitgestuurd and on the Knokteberg I felt that it was a good time to anticipate. A instinctmoment. Unfortunately, the reed Dries his wheel just at that moment broken,” responded Van der Poel at Sporza.

The cyclist got in front with a strong group, also featuring, among others, Bob Jungels, Tiesj Benoot and Anthony Turgis. Benoot tried in the slot just to escape, but the leader of Lotto-Soudal didn't get away. Turgis tried in turn, Van der Poel and co to surprise in the sprint, but the world champion in the field didn't ringeloren.

“In the run-up to the sprint was still on the look out for aanvalletjes, but the men that went were immediately recovered. In the sprint I looked then fortunately, just in time aside when Turgis his spurt began”, gave Van der Poel the story. “I felt that I had strength and I am very happy that I can finish.”

By his victory Van der Poel also one of the favourites for the Tour of Flanders, this Sunday on the program. “I can see that itself is not really so. I don't think that I really already have a favorite ben to win. Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Tour of his other races, Sunday is almost 100 km longer. We'll see what it is.”