PARIS — Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel said that riders are the biggest problem for safety in the peloton, but he will continue to take risks in pursuit of victory.
“I think the most dangerous part of cycling is the riders themselves,” Van der Poel told a press conference according to Reuters.
Stage four of the Tour of the Basque Country was marred by a horrific crash where Jonas Vingegaard broke a collarbone and several ribs and also sustained pulmonary contusion.
The crash happened at a turn on a high speed descent, and race leader Primoz Roglic was forced to abandon the tour, while Remco Evenepoel suffered a fracture to his right collarbone and his right shoulder blade.
“We take the risks and that’s the main problem, everyone wants to be at the front in the same place and it’s not possible,” Van der Poel, who aims to retain his Paris Roubaix title this week, added.
“We can change a lot of things to make it better, but it’s never going to be completely secure.”
World champion Van der Poel won his third Tour of Flanders last Sunday and is favourite to successfully defend his Paris Roubaix title.
Race organisers have implemented a chicane in an effort to slow the riders down as they head into the notorious cobbled Trouee d’Arenberg, one of the most dangerous sections of the Hell of the North.
The change was announced a few days before the race, and Van der Poel responded to a video of the chicane posted on social media platform X by asking “Is this a joke?”, and the rider is still not convinced.
“I think it’s good that they’re trying something. But in my opinion, the chicane is not the right solution and also to do it in the week before the race is not the best option either,” the Dutchman said.
“Obviously, it’s one of the most dangerous places of the season, so it’s good that they’re thinking about change, but for me change isn’t always the best thing to do.
“If you go into Arenberg in 20th position, it’s pretty good, you’re still in the race, but if you go into the chicane in 20th position, I think everyone who is after positions 5 to 10 will get stuck and then you easily lose 30 seconds.”
Van der Poel’s belief that riders themselves are the biggest danger will not, however, see him change his tactics for the race as he pursues his sixth Monument title.
“Like I said, the riders are the main issue, but I’m also joining the party, if you want to win, you have to be where everyone wants to be at the crucial moments.”
Van der Poel has warned rivals that the best is yet to come for his Alpecin-Deceuninck team, who will be stronger at the upcoming Paris-Roubaix.
The Tour of Flanders winner, who is looking to defend his crown in France, said: “As a team, we are maybe stronger here than we are in the other races.”
Speaking at the team’s pre-race press conference at the Deceuninck headquarters in Roeselare, Van der Poel said that he’s hoping that he and his team will once again find themselves in a similar situation to last year.
“If we can create a situation like we did last year, I think that benefits both of us,” Van der Poel said. “We can win the race in different ways and that’s for sure our strength as a duo.
“Jasper proved last year that he’s one of the favourites as well. That was really impressive. You need luck as well. Last year we didn’t have any punctures or bad luck and that’s super important in Paris-Roubaix.”
Last April, Van der Poel soloed into the famous Velodrome André-Pétrieux having left Van Aert behind at the end of the final five-star sector, the Carrefour de l’Arbre, with the Belgian later puncturing and falling back into the clutches of Philipsen, riding only his third Roubaix.
Professional cyclist Maximilian Schachmann clearly missed out on overall victory in the Tour of the Basque Country, which was overshadowed by heavy falls among the top favourites.
After the stage with demanding mountain classifications, the Spaniard Juan Ayuso triumphed with a lead of 3:40 minutes over the 30-year-old, who came in 13th place in the final tally.
The day before, Schachmann, who was in good form overall during the tour, was only two seconds behind the Dane Mattias Skjelmose, who was leading at the time.
For Ayuso, who is only 21 years old, winning the tour is the greatest success in his career so far.
Over the 137.8 kilometres with start and finish in Eibar, Spaniard Carlos Rodriguez took the day’s victory by six seconds ahead of Ayuso.
Marc Soler completed the Spanish daily podium in third place. Schachmann crossed the finish line in 26th place, 3:36 minutes behind the day’s winner.
