'The last real TT I did was when I was a junior': Mathieu van der Poel surprises himself with Tour of Britain time trial performance

Young Dutchman retook the overall lead after finishing sixth

(Image credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)

Tour of Britain leader Mathieu van der Poel (Corendon-Circus) said he “surprised himself” in the stage six time trial where he took the lead.

The Dutch sensation placed sixth, 12 seconds behind stage winner Eduardo Affini (Mitchelton-Scott) but crucially he was nine seconds ahead of Matteo Trentin (Mitchelton-Scott) taking the jersey in the process.

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Having trained as a journalist at Cardiff University I spent eight years working as a business journalist covering everything from social care, to construction to the legal profession and riding my bike at the weekends and evenings. When a friend told me Cycling Weekly was looking for a news editor, I didn't give myself much chance of landing the role, but I did and joined the publication in 2016. Since then I've covered Tours de France, World Championships, hour records, spring classics and races in the Middle East. On top of that, since becoming features editor in 2017 I've also been lucky enough to get myself sent to ride my bike for magazine pieces in Portugal and across the UK. They've all been fun but I have an enduring passion for covering the national track championships. It mig