Mathieu van der Poel looking forward to Mixed Relay: "It's something new, so I'm always up for that,"

After pulling out of the Primus Classic last weekend, van der Poel turned all his focus to Wollongong and the 2022 UCI Road World Championships. First up for him is the Mixed Relay event. The Mixed Relay involves 3 men and 3 women in a team time trial.

Joining van der Poel in the Netherlands team are Bauke Mollema, Daan Hoole, Riejanne Markus, Annemiek van Vleuten and Ellen van Dijk. A strong team to say the least, the Netherlands will go off 2nd to last with only Germany behind them.

Van der Poel is no team time trial specialist however, in fact when asked when his last team time trial was he gave this revealing answer “I can't remember the last time. I think it was somewhere in the juniors, on regular bikes. So it's been a really long time.”

Whilst a victory in the Mixed Relay would no doubt be another great success to add to his ever growing palmares, the one he really wants is this Sunday's World Championship Road Race. A former 2 time national champion, van der Poel also has 4 Cyclocross World Championship wins to his name.

When asked his thoughts on Sunday's race he had the following, ominous response, “I have felt good the last few weeks. That's not a reference of course. It can go either way. I think it will be a very open race, especially on that course. That's something I'm looking forward to." An on form van der Poel who is enjoying himself is without a doubt enough to worry any of his major competitors for the rainbow jersey.

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