"This was a great Giro d'Italia" for Mathieu van der Poel, coming once again close to a win in Verona

Mathieu van der Poel has had a strong Giro d'Italia, battling on for the three weeks despite the natural toughness that was present in the third week where it would be very hard to ambition a stage win.

He was the favourite for the final time-trial win in Verona for many, however came home third wrapping up a successful race, He explained: “Uphill I couldn't ride the wattage I had in mind. Also, I couldn't spin my heaviest gear on the descent after that. Not that I would have hit the top time otherwise, by the way. It was a very difficult time trial. I also didn't know where I was, because I consciously didn't get any split times," van der Poel said in a post-race interview.

He leaves the Giro then with a stage win and a stint in the pink jersey after his opening win in Visegrád, but perhaps most importantly, the experience of riding a three week race, finishing one for the first time in his career. “This was a great Giro d'Italia. I only had a very short preparation after the classics and getting pink was the big goal. It was of course very nice that it worked right away in the opening stage. I then came close twice more, but there was nothing more to it," he added.

He has said multiple times to have sustained great form into the third week, something that was a doubt in the skillset of the Alpecin-Fenix rider. However this Giro gave him great signs, “it's not too bad with how I feel now. It's not that I was struggling towards the end of this Giro. Despite that short preparation, I am very satisfied with how this race went," he pointed out.

"I hope to come out of this stronger towards the Tour de France. I am now taking a few days of rest and then preparing for the Tour via an altitude training camp," he concluded - hinting already at his upcoming schedule.