Van der Poel: “I never imagined winning all these races”

It seems like there's never any stress with you...Mathieu Van der Poel: I've been feeling really good for a while. Today was my best day since the classics season started. The team was incredible, and I'm very happy.

Why did you leave at that time, 60 kilometers from the finish? Was that your plan?I thought it was a good time at that point. We were in a small group and the cooperation was not very good. I wanted to toughen up the ending from there. I didn't expect to be all alone after this paved area. I never really make a plan. Particularly today, you can always have a puncture, a mechanical problem... Of course, it gives you wings when you are told over the headset that the gap is gradually widening.

Sometimes it almost seems like it's normal for you to win these races...No, it's definitely not something normal. I could have dreamed of it when I was little, especially with the world champion jersey, but I never imagined winning all these races, I was focused on cyclo-cross. It's incredible and I'm really trying to enjoy the last kilometers of the race, which I couldn't do at the Tour of Flanders because I had reached my limits. Today I felt better in the finale. I know it's a special moment, one that won't last forever. It was a really good day.

Are you even better than when you won the world championships in Glasgow? It's always difficult to compare, but I think I've come closer.

Do you need to be at your Glasgow level to win the next Monument, Liège-Bastogne-Liège? Yes, for sure. It's a shame that several contenders (notably Remco Evenepoel, Editor's note) are ultimately not there. Even with my level from Glasgow, it will be very difficult to win. But I'm going to try it anyway and see how far it takes me. You never know what might happen.