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Barry Ryan

'I didn't have super legs' - Mathieu van der Poel still chasing World Championships form

van der Poel Mathieu van der Poel Belga DIRK WAEM Jasper Philipsen Mads Pedersen Olav Kooij Tim Merlier European Championships
Dutch Mathieu van der Poel pictured in action during the Men's Elite Road Race at the European Championship 2024, in Hasselt, Sunday 15 September 2024. The UEC Road European Championships 2024 will take place from 11 to 15 september in Limburg, Belgium. BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM (Photo by DIRK WAEM / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP).

Mathieu van der Poel made repeated attempts to bend the European Championships road race to his will on Sunday, but the Dutchman’s aggression was eventually snuffed out with 25km to go and the race ended in a bunch sprint.

Tim Merlier (Belgium) claimed the title ahead of Van der Poel’s compatriot Olav Kooij, while the world champion had to settle for 30th place in one of his final outings in the rainbow jersey.

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