Mathieu van der Pol has revealed details of his first reconnaissance on the cobblestones ahead of his debut at Paris-Roubaix in October. The Dutch rider will finish his season at this race, having made his first attempt at many of the key sectors of the cobbles at the end of June.

Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad (opens in new tab), the Alpecin Phoenix leader understood why four-time winner Tom Boonen compared cobblestones to glue and discussed the Strava record he set during the three-hour ride.

"The reconnaissance was a lot of fun," Van der Pol said. I had never ridden that section before, and I had ridden the entire last 100 km after the Wallers Forest." [The cobblestones are really difficult. Tom Boonen compared cobblestones to "glue," and now I know what he meant. It's really hard to maintain speed on cobblestones."

Van der Pol, who won the "mini Paris-Roubaix" GP Denain last year, won the Strava KOM in the cobblestone sectors of Templove and Bourgelles a Wannuhan.

Eurosport commentator Karsten Kroon questioned the record, suggesting that Van der Pol was chasing the car.

"I can assure you that everything went well. If you had a little knowledge, you would know that my wattage and speed matched," van der Pol said.

"A little knowledge would have shown that my wattage and speed matched.

Van der Pol's father, Adri, a podium finisher at Roubaix in 1986, said Mathieu could win this race.

"If you haven't raced this race, it's hard to say. I like difficult races."

Van der Pol will race nine one-day classics (including four other monuments) from Paris to Roubaix and Tirreno-Adriatico in the span of three months.

His Alpecin Phoenix team was scheduled to start again on July 23 at the Sibiu Tour in Romania, but that may change as the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has designated Romania "Code Orange" for COVID-19. According to Wielerflits (opens in new tab), the team will announce its decision on Wednesday.

"The news about Romania over the last few days has not been very positive. 'We are trying to decide if it is wise to go. 'We're certainly not in great shape at the moment, but we're in good condition.

"There are a few other things. I'm certainly interested in the European Championships (August 24-28 in Plouët, France - editorial board), but I haven't made a decision yet." [Whether it's Romania or Strade Bianche on August 1, van der Pol is looking forward to getting back to racing. The last time he turned the pedals in anger was at the Volta Ao Algarve, and it has been four months and counting since then, but just because he is not racing does not mean he is not enjoying a less hectic life.

"I'm really looking forward to the races," he says. 'Not a particular race, but the race itself. During lockdown, though, it's been a very nice period of time, very different from the life I've been used to for many years."

"It was a long period of time with no pressure, so I really tried to enjoy it. I went to training a lot with Zdenek Štival. The last few years I moved around a lot, but I could stay at home."

With COVID-19 erasing most of the World Cup calendar and the Tokyo Olympics postponed to 2021, it is unlikely that Van der Pol will compete in MTB this season.

He plans to ride off-road this year and return to cyclocross in the winter, but (circumstances permitting) Belgian organizers are facing a new financial reality and are debating cutting starting fees or cutting them altogether.

For the Dutch athletes, who are one of the stars of the sport and bring spectators to the races, that is not something to be happy about.

"It has been on the table in the past (2017), so let's see if it really happens. I read now that the starting fee will not go away completely, but will be at the disposal of the organizers," van der Pol said.

"I hope they don't cut it too drastically. Wout van Art and I like to race crosses, but starting fees are financially attractive to us. There's a reason for this. I get paid for what I do and for the spectators I bring."

"There are no more riders who start just to collect starting money. In some small races I get more starting money than the World Cup prize money, but I ride as fast as I can in every race."