Mathieu van der Poel ready to test the legs on stage 3 of Tirreno-Adriatico: "I'm not scared, but we'd rather have dry weather and some sunshine than this"

Mathieu van der Poel is feeling confident ahead of stage 3 of Tirreno-Adriatico, which presents the first real hilly test of the race.

While the 239km stage is expected to favour climbers, the final ascent to Valico di Colfiorito may not be tough enough to rule out other contenders. The 18.5km climb averages just over 3%, making it less selective than the more punishing ascents still to come.

This could open the door for Van der Poel to have a say in the outcome, though the rainy conditions could add an extra challenge. Before the start, the Dutchman shared his thoughts on the impact of the weather and his expectations for the stage.

"I'm not scared, but we'd rather have dry weather and some sunshine than this. For now it seems to be okay, but we are prepared for rain on the way," he said.

With uncertainty surrounding how the stage will unfold, Van der Poel remains cautious but optimistic about his chances of staying in contention.

“It’s always a bit difficult to estimate. You have the profiles, but you only know how difficult it is when you’re there yourself. Normally I should be able to survive.”

While some might expect an early attack from the Dutchman, he dismissed the idea of going in the breakaway, believing the race will be too controlled for that to be a real option.

"The flight is not an option, maybe one of the next few days. I think it will be a bit too controlled, but it is always possible."