2023-12-20 17:03:34
Guest in Geraint Thomas’ podcast, Mathieu van der Poel did not avoid any subject: wout van Aert, his future goals and the Olympic Games.
Obviously, the world champion was invited to discuss his rivalry with Wout van Aert. “We’ve been fighting once morest each other for a while. Whether in cyclo-cross, or on the road, we have been pulling ourselves up for more than ten years now. When I have to beat Wout, I know that I have to be at 110% of my abilities. We have a good relationship, we respect each other a lot.”he explained.
According to the Dutchman, being friends with his rival would not be easy. “Making food together? It would be weird but we can save that for our following career. It would be very difficult to be friends with such a rival. I can more easily be friends with someone like Remco Evenepoel because our programs are not really the same. I mightn’t have the same relationship with Wout as with Remco.”
Asked regarding his program for 2024, the Dutchman was unable to give a precise answer. “I don’t know what it will look like. I would like to participate in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but I don’t know if it’s possible. It’s a special season with the Olympic Games. I’m not really thinking regarding win the five Monuments. I participated once in Liège-Bastonge-Liège and I finished sixth, but it was a Covid edition. If Remco or Tadej Pogacar are attacking, I can’t keep up. Lombardy is unwinnable. “
To shine at the Games, one of his big goals, he may well not make it to the end of the Tour de France. “If I want to combine mountain biking and road racing, it’s going to be hard to finish the Tour.” Van der Poel also does not rule out being at the start of the Vuelta to prepare for the defense of his world title.
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