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."