Mathieu van der Poel victorious in Hoogerheide but accuses fatigue: "I am not the only one without fresh legs"

Mathieu van der Poel took his second win of the weekend but once again he did not have a dominant triumph. The World Champion won the final race ahead of the World Championships in Hoogerheide.

“The first attempt was a little too short. The second time I extended it further to the beams. I do feel that I am souring quite quickly, with the training I had in my legs, but it is a good sign for next week," van der Poel shared following another win to his season. This was his final test ahead of the World Championships next weekend. “We take it day by day. The focus is on short training sessions, resting and getting fresh," the World Champion continues.

Van der Poel had another patient race in the wheels, before he tested his rivals on laps 6 and 8 (of 9). The final attack was decisive, the explosive Dutch track suits him like a glove and he as able to distance the group containing World Cup winner Eli Iserbyt and several riders of Baloise - Trek Lions. Van der Poel rode to victory on the final World Cup race of the season, his 12th win of the season.

“Everyone does their own thing. I am not the only one without fresh legs and you are trying to work towards super compensation," he says following a tough week of work. "This weekend is a little different, I only had one competition day this weekend and an extra rest day.”