“I think Mathieu might be in his best shape ever" - Christoph Roodhooft praises Alpecin-Deceuninck leader

Despite losing out to Tadej Pogacar at the Tour of Flanders last Sunday, Christoph Roodhooft, sports director at Alpecin-Deceuninck, has given a glowing review of his star rider Mathieu van der Poel.

“I think this is a very good result,” Roodhooft told Wielerflits following the Tour of Flanders. “Well, maybe it's not what we came for. But a number of teams have come to win. I don't think we did much wrong in the end. Only in the initial phase did we have to rectify the situation a bit, but I don't think Mathieu was very bothered by that.”

Even though he had to settle for second, van der Poel himself described the race as "perhaps his best of all his five editions." This is despite the fact he is a former two-time winner of the race. "Mathieu collided with a stronger Pogačar," Roodhooft agrees. “I think Mathieu might be in his best shape ever, although it might be hard to say. He is certainly in a top period of his career."

"Roubaix is ​​a completely different game, isn't it? That is not comparable. We must be satisfied with his condition. Let's all enjoy it together," Roodhooft continues, casting an eye towards Paris-Roubaix. “He is first and foremost a winner. Mathieu never gives up. He always wants to come back. He has worked extremely hard in recent months and years. I think he is also feeling very good at the moment and is happy with his profession as a cyclist. That is the main thing.”