Mathieu van der Poel "was really scared" in Val di Sole, according to Adrie van der Poel

Many were somewhat surprised to see Mathieu van der Poel come in more than three minutes down on eventual winner Michael Vanthourenhout at the infamous snow race, Val di Sole. Now Mathieu's father Adrie has given his opinion as to why "I think he was afraid."

According to Adrie van der Poel "This was purely about confidence.” After all this was Mathieu van der Poel's first time riding on the snow and ice in competition. "He was really scared, I think," Adrie told Wielerfilts. "This never happens to him. It was his first time on ice and it doesn't help that he hardly did any crossing last year. He only has a few in his legs and has just returned from a Spanish road training. But you shouldn't look any further than fear, you saw that in every corner.”

Adrie ended up doing the post-race interview with Wielerflits after Mathieu van der Poel, overcome with disappointment and frustration, declined all media. “It must have been a setback for him," Adrie reckons. "But you also have to be able to give it a place. It will be angry, but next week there will be another cross. The fact is that you have to drive around here with a good feeling. If that is the case, you drive thirty counts per lap faster than the rest.”