The third E3 victory in a row looked closer in the final kilometres than the performance data would suggest. Van der Poel attacked on the Boigneberg 65 kilometres before the finish and rode alone to Harelbeke. The chasing group came dangerously close in the last 20 kilometres, and the lead melted to less than ten seconds at times. However, they were unable to catch Van der Poel.
Insane wattage
Team-mate Jasper Philipsen called the figures published after the race "insane" and told Sporza that he would never achieve such numbers over this duration. Mick van Dijke described the performance as "hard to comprehend, even for us professionals" and added that Van der Poel was possibly the strongest rider ever seen. With 446 watts over a total of 90 minutes, it should be difficult for the competition to stay on the Dutchman's rear wheel. On steady climbs, however, the watts-per-kilogram value must be considered even more, but in classics with short climbs and uneven surfaces, the high absolute watt values benefit Mathieu van der Poel. Only one rider can currently pose a threat to him.
Duels against Tadej Pogačar
Tadej Pogačar seems to be the only one who can currently beat Mathieu van der Poel in one-day races. At Milan-Sanremo, Pogačar showed his impressive skills and was able to hold off Van der Poel on the decisive climb to win the cycling monument. Now the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix await. Pogačar already beat the classics specialist Van der Poel at the Ronde in 2023 and last year, but things look a little different on the cobblestones of France. There, Mathieu van der Poel won three times in a row and was able to put the Slovenian away in last year's duel.
Leon Weidner
Working student
