"They asked if anyone wanted to ride Le Samyn and I put my hand up. They thought it was a joke" - Mathieu van der Poel gives new insight into impromptu road return

Earlier than expected, Mathieu van der Poel makes his return to road racing this Tuesday afternoon in Belgium at Le Samyn. A surprise to some, the Dutchman's choice to race came in a somewhat last-minute decision. At the startline in Quaregnon, Van der Poel gave some more insight into just how his impromptu return came about.

“I just felt like racing. My legs were starting to itch,” Van der Poel began. “I’ve had some good training weeks and felt ready to get started. I’m very happy with where I am. It’s a fun race to ride and it’s been a while since I’ve been at the start here.”

As it turns out, Van der Poel fans might actually have something to thanks Lars Boven for, as it was his initial withdrawal from the lineup that paved the way for the former world champion to make his return. “Somewhere last week, at the table in Spain, they asked if anyone wanted to ride Le Samyn, and I put my hand up. They thought it was a joke at first, but I was serious," explains Van der Poel. "For my form, it is most profitable to start racing now.”

“It is always my ambition to win. Today too. But we will see. My first races of the season are often not my best,” the Alpecin-Deceuninck star concludes, insisting that regardless of the result this afternoon, he won't be challenging Tadej Pogacar and co at the upcoming Strade Bianche. “That wasn’t in the planning anyway. Le Samyn wasn’t either of course, but after this race I’ll be training at altitude again. This is the only change in my program.”