Mathieu van der Poel on career-defining win: "I no longer had the energy to put my hands in the air"

Mathieu van der Poel put on a storming ride to capture the first pink jersey of the Giro d'Italia, as he sprinted to the win on the opening day in what was a thrilling finale to the day.

"It's unbelievable that after the yellow in the Tour de France I now also take the pink in the Giro d'Italia. I knew positioning on this climb would be the key to success. It wasn't easy, because I got closed in a few times and it took a lot of energy to get all the way back to the front," Van der Poel said at the end of the stage. Alpecin-Fenix was the first team to take hold of the peloton after the two Drone Hopper - Androni Giocattoli riders went up the road, and they were keen on making the stage hard towards the final kilometers where van der Poel was one of the main favourites. 

With the attacks controlled, a bunch sprint was expected in Visegrád. Van der Poel launched his bid to the line from the wheel of Biniam Girmay and overtook the Eritrean - who had Caleb Ewan collide into his wheel in the final few meters. After taking on the yellow jersey last year at the Tour de France, this comes as another big achievement in the career of the Dutchman. “I started my sprint well on time, but it was really close. The legs were completely full. But that was true for everyone, I think.”

It is unique. It seemed obvious, but it certainly isn't. It's a chance in so many years that you can sprint for the pink, so that makes it extra special. I never have a victory gesture in mind, but I no longer had the energy to put my hands in the air," he told reporters at the end.

He took the win, the fourth of his season. Tomorrow in Budapest he will have a race lead to defend, but he sits confident ahead of it: “As predicted in advance, it was difficult to unload the pure sprinters, but of course it is also difficult for them. Tomorrow? Of course I'm going to try to defend that pink jersey. But just like in the Tour, that will not be an easy job. But I will definitely try.”