"I need stages like that to get better" - Mathieu van der Poel still far from best form but positive after climbing test

Mathieu van der Poel hoped to be in contention for today's stage at Tirreno-Adriatico, but the climbs have exposed his relative lack of form currently. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider talks of the need for hard days such as this.

“It was clear that I had trouble with the pace. It was a very hard finish, maybe a little too hard. Obviously I didn't have the best legs, but I need stages like that to get better," van der Poel said in a post-race interview. The Dutchman was dropped in the two times the riders rode over the final ascent to Tortoreto, and then voluntarily dropped in the final ascent after leading out teammate Robert Stannard.

It was a tough test for van der Poel, who sees himself still below his best level. It won't come as a shock, but the difficulties climbing most likely mean that stage 6 will also be too far of a reach for the classics specialist to fight for the victory. As he builds towards the cobbled classics, he hopes this work does it's effect.

“But we are here to sharpen the form. I was good the last two days, but today was a little less, but we'll see again tomorrow. There are still a few tough stages ahead. My goals are after the Tirreno," van der Poel concluded.