Mathieu van der Poel is simply days away from crucial purpose of his winter, his probably 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 received all however one race he is accomplished 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 Street World Championships victory in Glasgow final yr, he stated, “Equalling [Tábor in 2015] now’s troublesome. The primary time is usually the very best.”
Van der Poel has said from the beginning of his marketing campaign that his solely purpose 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 wreck this ambition.
“It is all the time potential, but when I do not win in Tábor, I am unable to name it a profitable winter,” he stated, including he would not fear about shedding. “I have been in that state of affairs a number of occasions lately. Up to now, I might need dwelled on that, however now I do not. I additionally did every little thing I needed to do, there’s nothing extra to vary that. We’ll 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 may not be the only 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 assume it actually provides worth in direction of the spring. Above all, I need the world title. The opposite crosses are not targets in themselves. It isn’t the perfect coaching for spring – you are higher off with 5 or 6 hours of endurance coaching than using for an hour at breakneck pace,” Van der Poel stated.
Requested if he would race ‘cross once more subsequent season, he stated, “I will have to consider that and see,” including that stopping after a seventh title is perhaps good. “First elite world title in cyclocross in 2015, now once more in Tábor. It might 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 will hold doing it.”
Van der Poel has lengthy prioritised his private enjoyment of the self-discipline over marginal beneficial properties elsewhere. “That is why I nonetheless do it. However … now and again, a winter with out [‘cross] will also be good, a winter of psychological relaxation now and again.”
It is nearly unimaginable to consider however Van der Poel did not give street racing a lot consideration past being a approach to keep match in the summertime till 2018.
“I did not assume then that I’d ever discover street races necessary. I by no means considered it – it did not even actually curiosity me. Once I grew to become Dutch street champion in Hoogerheide, then I made a decision to trip a spring on the street as effectively.”
His concentrate on the street was not solely profitable for him, but in addition helped his staff 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 received 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 will depend on a number of elements, most notably the riders attempting 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 staff. He named two Belgians as his greatest rivals, Michael Vanthourenhout and Thibau Nys.
His win was marginally much less dominant than earlier ones – he received 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 kind.
“Every week earlier than will not be 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 effectively 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 accomplished every little thing accurately and we predict so – I already had an excellent winter – usually we must always see the very best model of myself subsequent week. That is what everybody who begins there desires.
“I used to be ready for every little thing. And ideally, I’d have favored 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 definitely not panic.”
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