Even though it is still cyclocross season, yesterday on his Instagram stories, Mathieu van der Poel dropped a look at him following the crowd and getting some gravel riding in.
Is he secretly targeting the Dirty Kanza 200? Not that we know of, but it did hint at some of his plans for this spring.
Van der Poel’s Alpecin – Fenix team received wild card bids to the famed white roads of Strade Bianche and the Poggio of Milan – San Remo. The team had hoped to race the Tirreno Adriatico stage race, but they did not receive a wild card for that event.
#StradeBianche 2020, here are the 23 invited teams! | #StradeBianche 2020, ecco le 23 squadre invitate! pic.twitter.com/MTWzd3GSAD
— Strade Bianche (@StradeBianche) January 16, 2020
In racing the Strade Bianche and Milan – San Remo, Van der Poel looks to replicate the success his rival Wout van Aert (Jumbo – Visma) has had there in recent years. Van Aert famously finished 3rd at Strade in 2018 after a legendary effort on a brutal day, and he then finished 3rd on the white roads and 6th at Milan – San Remo in 2019.
The 2020 Strade Bianche takes place on March 8 and Milan – San Remo on March 21. Van der Poel’s planned schedule also includes Gent – Wevelgem, the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris – Roubaix before he turns his attention to the XCO Mountain Bike race at the Tokyo Olympics.
Featured image: Bart Hazen
