The World Championships threw up a brilliant race in all events throughout the week and the men’s elite road race was no exception. The Dutch national coach Moerenhout has given the kudos to an unbeatable Tadej Pogacar and says that the team has to be satisfied with reaching the medal under the circumstances in which the race was won.
“Everyone knows that when he goes, it’s all hands on deck. You can’t react to that by saying: ‘oh, that’ll be fine’,” Koos Moerenhout told Wielerflits. “Then you have to be there and that’s clear. I thought it was over right away. When Jan Tratnik waited, you know he’ll get a free ride to the leading group. Then you hope that it will fall silent there and no one will cooperate with him, but he was gone in no time. Behind them, it takes too long for them to work together harmoniously and they keep attacking too much. As a result, that serious hunt never really got going”.
The Slovenian went up the road and realistically the Dutch had no chance of bringing him back. Bauke Mollema put in a very strong and surprising performance, but the responsibility initially fell on the Belgians and then it became an individual race for everyone. Mathieu van der Poel was on a great day, and was strong enough to respond to the unpredictability of the tactical finale.
“… At that moment in that situation you also know that the rest of that group understands that Mathieu is the fastest in that race. And that they’re going to attack him. You can’t respond to everything, while he actually did very well,” Moerenhout says. “The fact that Ben O’Connor did manage to do it is a kudos to him, because silver was the highest achievable today. You ride to win and you know that there is a chance, despite the fact that Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel were the overwhelming favourites. Mathieu also rode a very good race.”
Ben O’Connor succeeded in a late attack to take home the silver medal whilst the rest of the group rode to the line fighting for third spot. From those, the up-to-that-point reigning World Champion sprinted and managed to grab the last step on the final podium. “You don’t want to be satisfied with this result, but you have to be”.
“We saw a very good Van der Poel, that’s clear. On this course, which is so difficult. Don’t forget that he also had to go early because of Pogačar’s attack. Mathieu is a winner and you ride to win. After my first reconnaissance I always said that Van der Poel had a chance, if he had a super day. But that it was also up to the competition,” he concludes. “We were really looking forward to it, but we ran into an outstanding Tadej Pogačar. That was unprecedented, really unprecedented. If someone is better, you can accept the result. Then you can and should be satisfied with bronze.”
