Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) could not assist however have blended emotions after narrowly lacking out on the victory on an exhilarating opening stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné.
Whereas he was conscious that ending third from a star-studded late break was a optimistic signal of his finest type coming again after a latest wrist fracture, he was nonetheless “upset” that he wasn’t capable of beat Tadej Pogačar (UAE Group Emirates-XRG) or Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) to the road in Montluçon.
The previous world champion appeared each bit himself as he adopted the strikes up the steep remaining categorised climb with 7km left to race, earlier than latching onto Vingegaard’s stinging transfer 5.5km from the road, that additionally enticed Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) to interrupt away.
Had he not fractured his wrist in a mountain bike race simply two weeks in the past, Van der Poel would have been the huge favorite to win from the star-studded transfer, which narrowly survived to beat the chasing bunch.
Nonetheless, he revealed pre-stage that he’d lacked full-gas depth in his disrupted coaching, and it turned out he was lacking his sometimes unbeatable explosive kick to the road due to this. Pogačar, in contrast to at this 12 months’s Milan-San Remo, surged from behind the Dutchman to take the stage from him, with Vingegaard in second.
“I simply did not have the legs any extra, like I stated earlier than the race, I couldn’t prepare within the final weeks,” stated Van der Poel to reporters after the end.
“I actually felt I used to be on the restrict excessive of the climb, and I hoped my legs would get better a bit for the ultimate dash, however that was not the case. However to be trustworthy, I am fairly proud of the efficiency right now.”
Van der Poel was the one non-pure climber to make it into the ultimate transfer after the Côte du Buffon, which performed into his simultaneous satisfaction and disappointment, figuring out full nicely that at prime form, he would beat Pogačar, Vingegaard and Evenepoel simply on this dash.
“I did not count on that we’d go together with a bunch. I anticipated extra of a managed tempo, however then they actually attacked from the underside, and it was a tough climb,” stated Van der Poel, who was exhausted on the line.
“Then, Jonas attacked on prime, and I knew I needed to observe. Then, till the end, I used to be unsure if we have been going to make it.
“I used to be in a distinct weight class there, however I am pleased I used to be on this decisive transfer. However, after all, additionally a bit upset that I couldn’t end it off.”
Van der Poel ought to get extra possibilities to take his first WorldTour stage win for the reason that 2022 Giro d’Italia, with extra undulating terrain arriving on levels 2, 3 and 5 on the Dauphiné, and he’ll be hoping the depth from stage 1 provides to his form going ahead.
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