Mathieu van der Poel using Renewi Tour as preparation for final goals of the season - "I had hoped for more difficult stages"

Alpecin-Deceuninck are playing both their big cards at the Renewi Tour. Jasper Philipsen will aim for wins in the sprints whilst World Champion Mathieu van der Poel will eye the overall classification - but with his mind in the European and World Championshis.

"I had hoped for more difficult stages. We'll have to make do. Only Sunday looks really tough. I'll be able to test myself there," van der Poel told Het Nieuwsblad ahead of the race. Stage 5, Sunday, is the one that features multiple ascents of the Muur de Geraardsbergen and other cobbled climbs - which could decide the overall classification. “Sunday should suit me in particular. I will go for the stage win.”

The Belgian race will only be five days long and feature three days for the sprinters, a time-trial and a hilly stage. All-in-all, plenty riders can be contenders to win this race. The Dutchman will be among them, although the roads where he wants to win the most are still yet to come.

In words to Sporza, he continued: “I don't pay enough attention to it (the time trial, ed.), but maybe I will keep the difference small enough to try something. Sunday is an extremely difficult stage and that is when the decision will be made. That day you can still make up some money, but not minutes. Although I normally don't lose those in the time trial either".  

After Renewi, van der Poel will race the European Championships in Belgium in search of another title; and then the Tour of Luxembourg ahead of the Zurich World Championships. “It is a nice end to my road season. I have not yet ridden in Luxembourg. I am looking forward to that”,