Van der Poel on World Championships: "I wouldn't go to Australia if I don't think I can win there"

Mathieu van der Poel has been announced as the leader of the Netherlands for the upcoming World Championships, and he will be one of the main favourites going into Wollongong.

Talking to Sporza about the race, he has talked about his chances of succeeding: "It's hard to estimate, but I wouldn't go to Australia if I don't think I can win there. The course? That will be on the edge, I think. It is Amstel Gold Race-like, but then I also have to be 100 percent to win.

The Dutchman has made an incredible comeback to form in March at Milano-Sanremo following a back injury that has kept him off the bike the whole of January. Despite the lack of an ideal preparation, he went on to be incredibly successful in the spring, and at the Giro d'Italia where he won the opening stage. What followed was a disappointing Tour de France, however he has time to finish off the season in a high in it's last month.

"I'm never stressed before a race again. In the first years I had that in the field at the World Championships, but now I no longer feel pressure," he said. Asked about his back issues, van der Poel also hinted at a good process that has kept him race fit. "I have to keep working to keep the problem away. I spend quite a few hours in the gym to keep everything under control. I have work with it, but I can cycle completely pain-free again," he concluded.