"This is preparation for the classics to come" - Teammates assure Mathieu van der Poel's form is in the right path

Mathieu Van der Poel's start to the season hasn't been the best. The cyclocross World Champion from Alpecin-Deceunick came short of the expectations in Strade Bianche and for now, hasn't shown much in Tirreno-Adriatico. Due to that some doubts about what will be due in the classics appeared, but his teammates haven't lost confidence in him.

"Mathieu didn't feel great today. I think the course was also a bit too tough for someone like him. We will try to play Mathieu's card in another stage. He is using this stage race as a preparation race for the classics, where he hopes to start with the best legs", said Philipsen in a recent interview.

The Dutchman has stage 6 of Tirreno-Adriatico as a good opportunity for him but, his main goals are the classics and Tirreno-Adriatico is just a preparation as his teammate Gianni Veermersch said. The duo will most likely be the key riders alongside van der Poel this spring.

"Whether Mathieu is worried? No, absolutely not. This is preparation for the classics to come. We are working well here. We just need the training to bring our form up that little more, but we have already won a stage and our Tirreno has already succeeded. Likewise, we are looking forward to the classics. Our confidence is good, for sure" Vermeersch told Sporza.