‘Even with my best shape, it would be difficult to follow Tadej’ – Mathieu van der Poel on Liège podium

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) capped off a successful spring campaign with victories at E3 Classics, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix but said that a third place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège was the best he could do against a rider like Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates).

“I’m realistic enough. I know that if Pogačar has a good day, I cannot follow him, not even with my best legs, which is normal,” Van der Poel said in a post-race interview with Cycling Pro Net.