"Tadej was just too strong today" - Mathieu van der Poel best of the rest against unbeatable Pogacat at Tour of Flanders

Mathieu van der Poel entered the Tour of Flanders in a good position, perhaps with the least pressure out of the 'big three'. He put on a storming performance, but could not match the many attacks of Tadej Pogacar.

“I have to thank the team. They had to ride a few times, but I didn't have to put anything right myself. I certainly did not lose the race there," van der Poel said in a post-race interview. Without Soren Kragh Andersen who crashed out of contention, the Belgian team were forced to chase back after Team DSM attacked the race early on. Then, as many riders escaped just outside the 100-kilometer mark, the team had to put on a lot of work once again as they weren't featured in front.

Van der Poel was put to the test at the Oude Kwaremont's second passage, as Tadej Pogacar attacked. There, and at the Koppenberg he managed to respond. Having overcame a mechanical at the Taaienberg, he then attacked at the Kruisberg dropping Wout van Aert. The duo bridged over to the front, but the final duo of climbs were still yet to be tackled, and there the race was decided.

“Of course I am a little disappointed, but it is not too bad. Tadej was just too strong today. I didn't really have an answer for the Kwaremont," he admitted. "That's a pity, but this was one of the best editions of the Ronde for me personally." What followed was a long and draining chase, but he wasn't able to reel back the Slovenian who won his first Ronde.

"Even after the last time Paterberg to the finish I didn't get below 400 Watt. I just didn't get any closer. Then you are a deserved second and you can not complain," he commented. After winning the cobbled monument twice, today van der Poel had to settle for silver. It was an honorable performance, but the UAE Team Emirates rider was on a superior level this afternoon.

Next week Paris-Roubaix will be on the menu, and van der Poel is already having it in mind. “But that is a completely different race. The only conclusion I can draw is that the form is good. I will give it my all in Roubaix, but I'm already riding a very good season. I felt really good today too, but I couldn't do more. I can post this," he concluded.