"This is the best Mathieu van de Poel possible" - Alpecin manager believes Dutchman can win World Championships

Mathieu van der Poel is ready for the World Championships but ahead of the race, it has been his Alpecin-Deceuninck team manager reassuring that the reigning World Champion is fit and prepared for the challenge of this Sunday's race. Christoph Roodhoft has talked in detail about his feelings ahead of the race.

"... As far as Mathieu himself is concerned, we are satisfied with how things went. Did he need that stage win in the opening stage (at the Tour de Luxembourg, ed.)? That stage went very well and at the finish he had enough power and explosiveness to make the difference. That was of course pleasant. It had also been a while since he had won. But to say that he really needed that win: no, he didn't," Roodhoft said in words to Wielerflits.

At the Olympic Games the leader of The Netherlands had the form, but it was a very tactical race where the main favourite found himself covered and pressured on all sides. Here in Zurich, most eyes will be on Tadej Pogacar and time-trial winner Remco Evenepoel. It's not van der Poel's type of race, but he may be able to succeed under the right conditions.

“This is the best Mathieu van de Poel possible. I don't need to go into that much more detail. Everyone knows his capabilities," he continues. "Not unimportant in the run-up to this World Championship: his opponents may well be more important than the course. Because Mathieu should be able to handle that race in Zurich. The big question is how well he can handle it at this point in the season, with the opponents he has in the area".

Although the climbs won't be too long, it certainly will be a challenge to have to match someone like Pogacar - a man that has been unmatched this season - uphill and at the end of 250 kilometers of racing with over 4000 meters of climbing. Van der Poel was nowhere near being able to do that at Liège-Bastogne-Liège (which to be fair had more difficult climbs) but still managed third, which shows that he is indeed able to contend for a result even in these more climber-oriented classics.

He has lost weight, but Roodhoft reaffirms that it is not significant: “And it is certainly not about several kilos. As I said: the course is one thing. But the opposition is the biggest factor. The course of the race will show. Everything has to fall into place for Mathieu, but that also applies to his competitors. I can only say Mathieu is fine.”

“But a less good day from the others might also suffice. Look, we have done everything we can to get Mathieu as good as possible for Sunday. We can't do more," he concluded. "And yes, then a super day is a possibility. I am just as curious as you are to see how far he can get with that on Sunday.”