"The past two days really took their toll, with the bad weather" - Mathieu van der Poel digging deep in Tirreno-Adriatico
Cycling
Through relentless rain and freezing temperatures, Mathieu
van der Poel has shown strong form this week at Tirreno-Adriatico, using the
race as crucial preparation for Milano-Sanremo and the cobbled classics.
The Dutchman has been tested by the extreme weather
conditions, acknowledging the sheer difficulty of recent stages.
"It was also Dutch-Belgian weather yesterday, so it was
another pretty hellish stage," Van der Poel told Eurosport.
Friday’s Stage 5 features a hilly finale, with two punishing
climbs expected to separate the strongest riders. The profile is similar to a
stage in the 2023 edition, where Van der Poel claimed a spectacular victory.
However, he was quick to point out a key difference.
"That was from an early breakaway, to make a side note.
It is just difficult to estimate how difficult it really is, and what the
climbers are going to do today."
During the final kilometres of Stage 4, Van der Poel launched
an attack, but was reeled in by a powerful solo effort from Filippo Ganna.
Despite the Italian’s strength, Van der Poel wasn’t shocked by what he saw.
"I think he is in reasonably good shape, but I am not
impressed. I think everyone knows how strong Ganna is as a rider, and he has
also been close a few times in Sanremo, so he is someone to be reckoned
with."
After two gruelling days of racing in brutal weather, Van
der Poel admits that his energy levels will dictate his ambitions for Stage 5.
"The past two days really took their toll, with the bad
weather. They were also two tough rides, so we'll see how my legs feel
today."
He also highlighted just how extreme the conditions have
been, noting that even seasoned professionals struggled to cope with the cold, "I
haven't experienced weather like this very often. Yesterday, half of the
peloton also stopped to change at the car, so I think it's the same for
everyone."
The impact of the cold was particularly evident in the
sprint, where he felt noticeably drained, "If I look at the sprint values:
there wasn't much left, but that was the case for everyone, I think."
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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