Mathieu van der Poel will aim high in 2023. He's revealed his calendar for the spring and summer, and one of his goals will be to finally complete the Tour de France - on the third attempt.
“I do not say no to a third Tour of Flanders, but another Monument is also possible," van der Poel said in a press conference this afternoon. He's revealed his calendar for the spring which will begin at Strade Bianche and has the main goal in the Tour des Flandres and Paris-Roubaix.
The Dutchman will prioritize the spring classics thoroughly, but months after France will be his priority. He's now raced it on two occasions but has not yet completed the Grand Boucle on any, and is looking to change that.
“It's about time I get to Paris. That should work. That has not been possible for two years due to circumstances. Last year I was much too tired after the Giro, the year before that I was thinking about the Olympic Games," he explains. "The green jersey is not a goal, that interests me little for the time being.”
Shortly after the Tour van der Poel is very likely to travel to Scotland, where he will race the World Championships in Glasgow, on a circuit similar to that where he finished on the podium of the European Championships a few years back behind Matteo Trentin.
“I also touched on Glasgow. It is a course that normally suits me. By the way, I was already on the podium there. The World Championships is always a goal and this year will be no different," he concluded.
Wegprogramma MVDP: Strade, Tirreno, Milaan Sanremo, voorjaarsklassiekers maar voorlopig geen Amstel, dan Ronde van Zwitserland en Tour de France. 'Derde keer Vlaanderen zou mooi zijn, maar ook om eens een ander monument te winnen. En in de Tour om Parijs eens te halen'
