"Mathieu van der Poel is a jewel for the sport" - Hennie Kuiper overjoyed for first Dutch Milano-Sanremo victory since his in 1985

After Mathieu van der Poel became the first Dutch winner of Milano-Sanremo in 38 years, Hennie Kuiper, the victor back in 1985, has revealed his joy at seeing the hoodoo broken.

“I usually call Adrie after a few days if Mathieu has done something nice. I think it's very special that he follows me. I played football in the garden with little Mathieu," Kuiper tells Algemeen Dagblad. "I was also the last Dutch winner of the Tour of Lombardy for a long time. Until Bauke Mollema won that great competition in 2019. I also have a good feeling with Bauke. I actually think it's wonderful to still experience it all. Because I know how great it is to win Milan-San Remo.”

Sadly for Kuiper however, the 74-year-old wasn't actually able to watch van der Poel's crowning moment. "Television let me down. I don't have the right channels in the holiday home. It's also my fault, I'm not much of a techie," he explains.

But now having finally managed to witness the race, Kuiper cannot hide his joy. "I am very happy that Mathieu won. Mathieu always does things that make you think: it's not really possible," he says. "As a cycling enthusiast, it really makes your heart beat faster. Mentally and physically you have to be so strong for that. He is a jewel for the sport. It is great that he is now also part of the club.