Gustafson, who has three Olympic gold and one silver, has good contact with van der Poel, comments on the races on Viaplay, and took part in a bicycle session at the base in German Inzell last autumn.
- It was cool and it must be fantastic fun to have made that journey and then finish it with the world record, says Gustafson.
What were you thinking when the time came?
- I had the world record schedule in front of me from the start.
When Patrick Roest had ridden at 12.44, it felt as if the record was within reach.
The danger for Nils would have been if he started at the lap times he finished with because then he could have cracked but he grew into that level during the race.
Many held their breath as Van der Poel swayed at an error in one of the final laps.
"Do not know why the wrong cut happened"
- Then he had a wrong cut where the lap time went up a couple of tenths which he then collected.
I saw what happened but not why, it was as if he was hooked on something.
It was the same at the World Cup in Stavanger.
When you are very tired, the risk is greater.
Had he fallen, it would have been very dramatic.
- He was probably hugely inspired at the end and felt that he had total control over the performance.
Wife: "You are pretty lka"
You did the same thing in Calgary with gold in the 5000 and 10000 meters. Can you compare your performance?
- It is difficult to compare because he is a different generation but my wife usually says that "you are quite similar in your way of reasoning" but Nils is Nils, says Gustafson about the determination that unites the two.
van der Poel has declared that he will go to the World Cup later this spring.
Gustafson hopes to see even more of Poelstjärnan.
- If he could set a world record in Beijing, I think he can walk for six minutes in the 5000 meters at the World Cup final in Heerenveen.
It would be cool to do that in front of a packed arena.
To start with a five instead of a six, says Gustafson about the haunting dream limit in the distance.