Mathieu van der Pol (open in new tab) is "all set" for Saturday's Milan-San Remo, Alpecin Phoenix sport director Christophe Rudhoft said.

"In Strade Bianche, Mathieu had bad luck at the wrong time," Rudhoeft told Het Nieuwsblad on Thursday about Van der Pol's puncture in last weekend's Italian one-day race.

"And on Wednesday in Milan-Torino, Sacha Modolo was supposed to sprint, but Yves Lampère's crash delayed Sacha.

"Mathieu tried to sprint himself, but our [sprint] train was on the opposite side, so he had to come from quite far back. But he was in good shape. He's obviously recovering from his extreme effort in Strade Bianche."

Van der Pol had a strong ride in Strade Bianche last Saturday, but suffered a puncture with around 70 km to go. Despite trying to chase down Julien Alaphilippe of Dečuninck-Quick Step, who suffered several punctures, Van der Pol was unable to catch him and finished 15th in Siena, more than 10 minutes behind the winner, Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma).

"It would of course have been great to have had a good result in the last few races, because two five-hour races does not suddenly make all the hard work we have put in over the last few months meaningless."

Van der Pol, last year's Amstel Gold champion and Tour of Britain champion, will take on Milan-San Remo for the first time in his career. Van der Pol's father, Adri, twice finished seventh in this race, in 1986 and 1988, but the young Van der Pol has set his sights higher.

"Things could be very different again on Saturday in Sanremo. Mathieu is well prepared."