'Even with my best shape, it would be difficult to follow Tadej' - Van der Poel on Liège podium

Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar at Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar at Liège-Bastogne-Liège (Image credit: Getty Images)

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.

Kirsten Frattini
Deputy Editor

Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.

Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.

She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.