Within the Rijksmuseum, the nationwide museum of the Netherlands, there is a portray titled ‘Fishing for Souls’ by Adriaen van de Venne, from 1614. It exhibits completely different non secular denominations battling for believers in a river, the Protestants from the northern Netherlands on the left financial institution, and the Catholics from the south of the nation on the proper.
The Protestants, who would go onto type the Dutch Republic, look to be extra profitable at “fishing for souls” on this allegory, whereas the Catholics on the proper, who would finally turn out to be Belgium, are much less lucky. The rivalry between Belgium and the Netherlands is nothing new, it has been happening for 4 hundred years, ever because the reformation, and the Eighty Years’ Conflict between the Dutch Republic and Spain over the way forward for the Low Nations.
The seemingly endless battle between the Dutch Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and the Belgian Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) is only one a part of that. By no means thoughts the truth that Van Aert rides for a Dutch crew and Van der Poel rides for a Belgian one, the rivalry is there. It began in cyclo-cross, and has been raging on the street for over 4 seasons now.
On the E3 Saxo Basic on Friday, Van der Poel struck as soon as once more for the orange aspect of this divide. Like his Dutch forefathers, he has been hauling in a a lot larger catch not too long ago. It looks like a barely unbalanced rivalry.
For the reason that final time Van Aert gained one in every of biking’s Monuments, Van der Poel has gained 4. Final 12 months, he beat Van Aert at Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, and the World Championships.
The victory at E3 was simply the newest the place Van der Poel has simply appeared like a step above his largest rival. His assault on the Paterberg, with 41km to go, was timed to perfection, even when it was aided by Van Aert crashing at virtually precisely the identical time.
“It modified every little thing,” Van Aert stated post-race. “It was an extended chase. It was a silly crash, and really unlucky for the remainder of the race.”
For his half, Van der Poel stated that he did not realise the Visma-Lease a Bike rider had hit the deck; both approach, as soon as he had a niche, it appeared unlikely that he would ever be introduced again, and so it proved.
It seems Van Aert has a mountain to climb to problem the Dutchman, who was racing for simply the second time this 12 months. Nonetheless, this was his first race again after an intense block of altitude coaching; maybe he wants a few races to get into the rhythm for the largest objectives, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
Van Aert, Visma-Lease a Bike, and Belgium, will hope that he didn’t harm himself too badly in his crash on a Paterberg which had been made slippery by rain. The very last thing he wants is a sophisticated run-in to the races that may outline his season. Subsequent will likely be Dwars door Vlaanderen, then Flanders, for an opportunity to bounce again.
Van der Poel, in the meantime, is seemingly already on the stage the place he can beat the sector at will. He’ll head to Gent-Wevelgem understanding he’s in high type, earlier than Flanders.
“The crew have been extremely robust at present, we all the time have one aim in thoughts,” he stated. “I am tremendous blissful, I did not count on it, I believed I wanted just a few extra races to get to this stage. I hope I can get better okay for Sunday [Gent-Wevelgem], as a result of I used to be fairly cooked ultimately… I am tremendous blissful to win it, particularly the best way I gained it.”
The Dutchman will hope that he has not already proven his hand, and might go on to take yet one more Monument over the following fortnight. On this manner, it’s tough to think about a lot apart from Van der Poel fishing one other victory.
