"I can't be disappointed today" - Mathieu van der Poel fails to win E3 Saxo Classic but happy with form
Cycling
Mathieu van der Poel was perhaps the most aggressive rider at the E3 Saxo Classic today. He ignited the explosions in the race early on, but was just barely outsprinted by Wout van Aert in the final meters of the race.
It was on the Taaienberg that the race broke, under the Dutchman's attack. With good form and motivated, Alpecin-Deceuninck supported van der Poel's aggressive stance. Dries de Bondt and later on Soren Kragh Andersen kept the pressure on in the competition. Van der Poel made the decisive attack later bridging together with van Aert and Pogacar to the leading group.
On the Paterberg and Oude Kwaremont Pogacar was the one to attack. However he could not dislodge van der Poel. Van Aert looked in difficulty on a couple of occasions, but ultimately survived the offensives. The trio looked evenly matched uphill, so the difference could only be made in a sprint, and that's what took place.
“I didn't think the sprint was that long. It was maybe a little further than 200 meters and the wind was full at our backs, but the best was gone towards the end. I would rather be beaten today than next week," van der Poel said following the finale. This time around he was beaten by van Aert in the final sprint, and rolled through the finish line in second place.
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“But I can live with it. I felt pretty good and wanted a long and tough final to get me ready for next week. I can't be disappointed today. I would have liked to win, but I can go home with a good feeling," he concluded.
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Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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WOUT VAN AERT BAT MATHIEU VAN DER POEL ET TADEJ POGACAR ! Tenant du titre, le Belge signe sa première victoire (route) de la saison sur l'#E3SaxoClassic ! Un peu dans le dur sur l'enchaînement Paterberg-Vieux Quaremont, le leader de la Jumbo-Visma a été plus rapide au sprint.
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