"Racing with Mathieu almost feels like a privilege" - Silvan Dillier on teaming up with Van der Poel at spring classics

Silvan Dillier was in his heyday a strong classics rider who almost won Paris-Roubaix and led AG2R in the cobbled classics. He was signed to be part of Alpecin-Deceuninck's block for these races and the collaboration has been almost ideal for both.

“A good culture has emerged within Alpecin-Deceuninck in that area, Partly thanks to the team leaders," Dillier said in an interview with RIDE Magazine. "They monitor the balance between emotion and reason. They also often take away negativity, if it already exists after a failed race. It is not the end of the world. There is always the next race. That's what this team is really good at. That's why we mainly talk about other things on the bus after a race, rather than points for improvement.”

The Swiss rider joined Alpecin in 2021 and ever since was part of several monument victories. This year he will once again be there next to van der Poel, but also very strong riders such as Jasper Philipsen, Kaden Groves and Soren Kragh Andersen who will each seek results in a collective that has proven to be very impressive.

“Even if he doesn't win, he often still does the podium ceremony. I find it difficult to say that he is better than ever. Mathieu only made a mess of it in Benidorm. But that this spring will be just as boring and predictable as cross winter? No, other riders don't sit still either. I expect a super high level and wonderful races again.”

The 33-year old will be a domestique for van der Poel and Philipsen at Milano-Sanremo this Saturday where the team will seek their first monument win of the season. They may, and Dillier is happy with the collective around him: "And to be honest, racing with Mathieu almost feels like a privilege. I see it as an opportunity to ride in one team with one of the talents of the century and especially not against him."

"It gives me extra motivation that Van der Poel is our leader. If you have someone in the team who has great potential to win a race, it gives a different kind of morale than when you know that fifth place is the maximum possible. I see that feeling and this work as a privilege," he concluded.