"The climb was not tough enough to create big gaps" - Mathieu van der Poel in form but laments rainy day's result at Tirreno

With bad weather conditions, a few climbs and 240 kilometers in distance, stage 3 of Tirreno-Adriatico was perhaps the day that fit best the preparation towards the spring classics. Alpecin-Deceuninck's Mathieu van der Poel went out in search of a stage win and put on a very strong performance, but in the end it wasn't to be and he was left empty handed besides soaked.

“It was a really terrible day yesterday. Well, I felt good, but the climb was not tough enough to create big gaps,” van der Poel said in an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws.

The Dutchman, like many, was not happy to arrive at the finish in Colfiorito without a result after 6:30 hours on the bike. It was a tricky finale with a long climb that had two distinct sections, and in the second one action kicked off early and a fight between the GC men and puncheurs began. EF was the main player when attacking, as Ben Healy and Richard Carapaz attempted to make the difference, but van der Poel awas alive to the danger.

Read also

Spanish cycling legend loves the racing style of Tadej Pogacar: "He doesn't give a damn about the distance, when he sees a moment he goes without looking back"

After the Ecuadorian attacked with a Groupama rider, it was van der Poel himself who attacked off the peloton to bridge across successfully, great evidence of his current form in an ascent whose gradients were similar to the Cipressa which he will ride in the space of week and a half.

In the finale Filippo Ganna went on the attack, and fearing a solo win it was van der Poel himself who again attacked to bridge across to the Italian. It would be energy that ultimately had better purpose, as he burned his chances in a sprint. But then he also found some bad luck. “In the final, I wanted to sprint, but I was boxed in with 150 to 200 metres to go. As a result, I had to interrupt my attack for a moment. It's a shame, but that's how it goes in a race," he concluded.

Read also

PREVIEW | Tirreno-Adriatico 2025 stage 4 - Will the classics specialists blow up a 'breakaway bingo' stage?

PREVIEW | Paris-Nice 2025 stage 5 - Can João Almeida take more time on Jonas Vingegaard on 18% climb?

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Unlock your ultimate cycling experience—subscribe today for access to the latest cycling news

Subscribe