The course in Wollongong must fit perfectly within the possibilities of Mathieu van der Poel.
Still, father Adrie van der Poel? “If he’s okay, yes,” he said in Extra Time Koers.
“How he went there? The difference with the Tour was huge. But whether he is ready to compete against riders who have been good for a whole year… I say no.”
“A lot depends on the course of the race. Is the course difficult or not difficult? The riders make it difficult.”
“He’s done everything he can, but I don’t know if it’s enough.”
Dirk De Wolf sees no room for doubt. “He’s in.”
“All training sessions were on Strava. During those weeks with “smaller races” such as Izegem and Geraardsbergen, he already drove 80-90 kilometers in the morning before the race. That’s how we used to do it for a World Cup. Old school. He will be ready. “
“I think he will be fine”, Jan Bakelants judged, “but it will depend on the course. I think he will fall short in a hard race.”
“In a scenario like in Geelong in 2010 (Thor Hushovd won the sprint of a group of about 20 riders), he can be the smiling third. A sprint of about 30 people…”
Van der Poel won the Walloon GP last week. “That was not really representative, but he did win in the way he can win on Sunday.”
“He kept his cool, waited and then did one good last climb.”
Source: Sporza
