Mathieu van der Poel is simply days away from crucial objective of his winter, his possible victory on the UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Tábor on Sunday. He claimed his first elite rainbow jersey in the identical city in 2015 over Wout van Aert, and 9 years and 5 extra ‘cross world titles later, Van der Poel is healthier than ever, having gained all however one race he is achieved this season.
After his twelfth win of the season on the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Hoogerheide, Van der Poel recalled that first victory as a second in time that also stands out in his reminiscence.
He and Van Aert determined to race the elites as an alternative of the under-23s only a week earlier than the race. Van Aert was beset with mechanical issues within the opening laps in Tábor in 2015 and Van der Poel soloed to the victory. “It was a turning level in our careers for each of us,” Van der Poel stated within the post-race press convention in Hoogerheide.
“The end was fairly emotional,” he stated, and when requested if it in contrast along with his Highway World Championships victory in Glasgow final yr, he stated, “Equalling [Tábor in 2015] now could be tough. The primary time is usually the very best.”
Van der Poel has said from the beginning of his marketing campaign that his solely objective was one other world title in cyclocross, and he’s the overwhelming favorite. However the World Cup in Benidorm confirmed that incidents like crashes can break this ambition.
“It is at all times doable, but when I do not win in Tábor, I am unable to name it a profitable winter,” he stated, including he does not fear about dropping. “I have been in that scenario a number of occasions in recent times. Prior to now, I may need dwelled on that, however now I do not. I additionally did all the things I needed to do, there’s nothing extra to alter that. We are going to see. I will not be nervous anymore both. And that, in flip, will convey some peace of thoughts.”
The race would be the finish of his ‘cross season as he turns his focus to the street, the place he’ll defend his title in Paris-Roubaix and check out for a 3rd win within the Tour of Flanders. Whereas Van Aert and Tom Pidcock opted to overlook Worlds and concentrate on their preparation for the street season, Van der Poel admitted that ‘cross won’t be your best option for coaching for the street.
In 2023, Van der Poel had his most profitable yr after a shorter seven-race ‘cross marketing campaign, profitable Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix, and taking second within the Tour of Flanders and E3 Saxo Basic, and he weighed the deserves of his cyclocross pursuits.
“I do not suppose it actually provides worth in direction of the spring. Above all, I would like the world title. The opposite crosses are now not objectives in themselves. It isn’t the best coaching for spring – you are higher off with 5 – 6 hours of endurance coaching than driving for an hour at breakneck pace,” Van der Poel stated.
Requested if he would race ‘cross once more subsequent season, he stated, “I am going to have to consider that and see,” including that stopping after a seventh title could be good. “First elite world title in cyclocross in 2015, now once more in Tábor. It could possibly be full circle, however I do not know but. That also must be checked out.”
If he does stop, do not blame the unruly followers who abused him throughout his numerous solo victories this season. “I do not embody that in my consideration. If I like doing it, I am going to hold doing it.”
Van der Poel has lengthy prioritised his private enjoyment of the self-discipline over marginal good points elsewhere. “That is why I nonetheless do it. However … every now and then, a winter with out [‘cross] may also be good, a winter of psychological relaxation every now and then.”
It is nearly not possible to consider however Van der Poel did not give street racing a lot consideration past being a option to keep match in the summertime till 2018.
“I did not suppose then that I’d ever discover street races necessary. I by no means thought of it – it did not even actually curiosity me. After I grew to become Dutch street champion in Hoogerheide, then I made a decision to experience a spring on the street as nicely.”
His concentrate on the street was not solely profitable for him, but additionally helped his crew flip right into a Professional Continental squad for the 2019 street season, a requirement so he might race the Spring Classics, and, after three enormously profitable seasons, they joined the WorldTour in 2023.
It paid off, too. In 2019, he gained a memorable Amstel Gold Race together with Brabantse Pijl, GP de Denain, Dwars door Vlaanderen, and completed simply off the rostrum within the Tour of Flanders.
Will Van der Poel’s cyclocross profession go down in historical past as bookended by world titles in Tábor? That is dependent upon a number of components, most notably the riders making an attempt to deprive him of the victory.
Van der Poel’s closest rivals this yr other than Van Aert and Pidcock, who is not going to race this weekend, have come from inside his Dutch crew. He named two Belgians as his largest rivals, Michael Vanthourenhout and Thibau Nys.
His win was marginally much less dominant than earlier ones – he gained by only some seconds over Dutchmen Joris Nieuwenhuis and Pim Ronhaar after Nys slid out within the final lap, however stated that is not an indicator of anybody’s type.
“Every week earlier than is just not the reference for the world championships. That by no means means something for the legs on the championship itself. However I’m assured that I dealt with it nicely in direction of Tábor. I wasn’t at my finest [in Hoogerheide], however that is due to the onerous coaching over the previous few weeks.
“If I’ve achieved all the things appropriately and we expect so – I already had an excellent winter – usually we should always see the very best model of myself subsequent week. That is what everybody who begins there desires.
“I used to be ready for all the things. And ideally, I’d have preferred a troublesome mud cross nevertheless it will not be that both. However I believe I’ve already proved that I can deal with all surfaces. I’m ready for something, in addition to for a tactical race. Though it is simpler if I can do my very own factor. But when I’m not alone after two or three laps, I’ll actually not panic.”
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