Amstel Gold Race favorite Mathieu van der Pol describes the Dutch classic as "like a mini Tour of Flanders" and is looking forward to taking on the local race after winning De Ronde and Paris-Roubaix in succession.

Van der Pol recalled his victory in Amstel in 2019, calling his victory over his rivals in the last meter and across the finish line in Valkenburg "my first really big win on the road." The Alpecin-Desseuninck leader also noted that the last few weeks couldn't have gone any better for him, "Now it's just a matter of whether I can keep this up for the next 10 days. I'm going to have to keep it up for the next 10 days, because I'll be competing against other, probably fresher, riders in Amstel and in Liège-Bastogne-Liège the following Sunday.

Van der Pol's comments have removed any lingering doubts about whether the Dutchman will compete in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, leaving the Flanders and Roubaix champion to turn his attention to the final monument of the season.

"Of course, I would love to return to the Amstel Gold Race," said Van der Pol, a two-time Holland Classic competitor, "Winning in 2019 is something I will never forget.

"The spectacular result still appeals to the imagination of the fans and it was also the first time I had a really big win on the road. I want to cherish those moments."

Van der Pol, who finished fourth in 2022, said the race has much in common with the Tour de Flanders, with its technical and sometimes very steep terrain, which he has won three times.

At the risk of stating the obvious, Liège-Bastogne-Liège might put the Ardennes specialists at a disadvantage because they were not only fresher than he was after a long spring classic campaign, but also "climb better than he does." He claimed.

Liege's 11 categorized climbs and 4,100-meter vertical climb may still be a big challenge for Van der Pol, but first comes Sunday and the Amstel Gold Race.

"Of course I know the roads of Limburg in the Netherlands, so I didn't need much. But it's good to refresh my memory, and that's never a bad thing."

Van der Pol, who has won three Classics this season and stands head and shoulders above his rivals, said he "doesn't really care" who his competitors are.

"I don't really care who I consider my main rival, as you know. I haven't even seen the list of participants yet. It may sound cliché, but I judge mainly on my own strength and the strength of my team," he said, noting that his team, which includes Sören Cragg Andersen, Quinten Hermans, and Gianni Vermaasch, has proven what it can do, regardless of the opposition.

"As a team, we have proven in recent weeks that we can control the race when we need to," Van der Pol noted, adding that Alpecin-Desseuninck took control of Paris-Roubaix last Sunday with a devastating attack by the Dutchman with 60 km to go. The climax of the race is a case in point.

"Again (this) Sunday, we will be surrounded by riders who have proven they are in good shape. We will be confident going into the start in Maastricht."

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