“Everything happened as Mathieu (van der Poel) predicted,” explained Tadej Pogacar, who built his success in the Amstel Gold Race by attacking in the Keuntenberg as his Dutch rival had suggested to him, in a press conference. , absent on Sunday.
You attacked three times to finally win. Was this scenario planned?
“Not quite. My first acceleration (80 kilometers from the line) was not really planned. But I saw that I was leading the pack with quite a few good riders so I wanted to speed up with them. And as my teammates had protected me perfectly during the first half of the race, I felt really good”.
And your attack in the Keutenberg, 29 kilometers from the finish?
“That was in the plans. Three days ago, Mathieu (van der Poel) sent me a message suggesting that I attack there. During the reconnaissance, I had actually noticed that it was the most difficult climb of the course. And everything happened as Mathieu had predicted. I thank him for the advice. Even if finding myself alone, I really suffered during the last twenty-five kilometers. The legs were really tired”.
During this solo, you were curiously and for a long time sheltered from the wind by the race director’s car. What do you have to say about it?
(he hesitates and asks to be asked the question again): “Yes, the car was really close. It’s really not a good situation. These are things that happen and should not happen. But it didn’t last long.”
After dominating Van der Poel and Wout Van Aert in the Tour of Flanders, you will now face Remco Evenepoel in Liège. What do you expect?
“Remco will arrive in very good condition after a long training course at altitude. I think he did everything to be at the top of his game in Liège, with a view to the Tour of Italy too. It’s going to be a hell of an opponent, that’s for sure.
Precisely, compared to him or to other runners who opted for preparations at altitude, this was not your case. Won’t that risk penalizing you for the rest of the season?
“I favored the races. We’ll see if that was a good thing. But after Liège-Bastogne-Liège (next Sunday), I’m going to take a rest then go to altitude. We will see in the coming weeks what is best for me to arrive at the top of my form at the Tour de France”.