Mathieu van der Poel finished second overall in the Renewi Tour on Sunday, unable to beat Arnaud De Lie in the final sprint.
What happened?
The Dutch rider will now shift his focus to mountain biking, aiming to win the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships at Crans-Montana on September 14.
Mathieu van der Poel said he is positive about his form after the Renewi Tour, which he believes will help him in the mountain bike race.
Why it matters for Mathieu van der Poel
Van der Poel gave De Lie a strong challenge, taking a time bonus to move ahead of his young rival, but did not have the legs to beat him in the final sprint.
He went all out for the first sprint but was at his limit, a feeling he also experienced on Friday in Geraardsbergen.
What comes next?
After a round of golf on Sunday evening, Van der Poel's next sporting event will be the UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Les Gets, a week from the Renewi Tour.
He has sat on the mountain bike a few times beforehand to get used to the position, which he believes is the biggest adjustment for him.
The technique will come naturally once he can ride the course every day starting Wednesday, he said.
Van der Poel lacks UCI points, which will put him at a disadvantage, starting from the fourth row in the mountain bike race.
He believes the start is even more important in mountain biking than in cyclocross, making his chance of becoming world champion slim.
But he thinks he made a difference fitness-wise during the Renewi Tour and is looking forward to the real test in Les Gets.
Van der Poel will have a few days of rest before competing in Les Gets, which will be a tune-up event for the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships.
He hopes to finish the race, unlike his previous attempt in Nove Mesto, where he crashed and fractured his wrist.
The UCI Mountain Bike World Championships will take place on September 14, and Van der Poel is determined to win the title.