Mathieu Van Der Pol (Alpecin Phoenix) is riding strong as the season resumes after setting a Strava record in the Col du Petit Saint Bernard in the Alps on the French-Italian border.

According to CyclismActu, the cyclocross world champion covered the 23-km climb in 51:19 at an average speed of 27.9 km/h. Teammate Louis Vervaeke was two seconds slower, while Floris de Tier was 52:41. They all surpassed the 56:46 recorded by Warren Barguil (Alcare Samsic) in 2017.

Van der Pol is currently at team training camp in La Plagne, which is over 3,000 meters above sea level.

Alpecin Phoenix is preparing to resume its season at the Sibiu Tour, July 23-26, but concerns over the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak in Romania have prompted the team to withdraw from the race.

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declared Romania an "orange zone" and advised "necessary travel only."

Van der Pol will start the season at the Strade Bianche on August 1 and will compete in Milan-Torino, Milan-San Remo, Gran Piemonte, and Il Lombardia in August.