"If you have to race against a rider like Mathieu, you sometimes have to race smart" - new Dutch champion Dylan van Baarle

Dylan van Baarle became new Dutch champion today after what could be considered a perfecly executed plan. Jumbo-Visma did everything in their might to use their numbers to neutralize favourite on the day - Mathieu van der Poel - and that's exactly what the team did, preparing a royal opportunity for van Baarle to make a winning move.

Afterwards, a very happy van Baarle looked back on his race with NOS. "I just went with my gut feeling," he said of his attack. "Somehow I have that feeling, and I often choose the right moment. Mathieu had gone on the attack so many times before. I think he was waiting for the climb. I know I can't follow him uphill. I know what I can and cannot do."

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And so van Baarle decided to attack before the climb. "I told Olav to follow Mathieu. That way I could ride at my own pace. If you have to race against a rider like Mathieu, you sometimes have to race smart. The race itself went perfectly. It was actually not the intention that Olav would be part of the move, but it worked out perfectly. Behind them, other teammates also went with small breakaways. That way I could keep myself calm. That was also the plan."

"This is extra tasty after a failed spring. Things went very well in the Critérium du Dauphiné and the training camp in Tignes also went perfectly. The fact that I can now go to Tour as Dutch champion… I have no words for it. It is a dream."

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Final startlist Tour de France with BIB | Vingegaard, Pogacar, Cavendish, Van der Poel, Van Aert, Alaphilippe, Bernal, Pidcock, Sagan and Girmay