Mathieu van der Poel secured his seventh world title in cyclocross, a victory that was never in doubt. His win was partly due to Van Aert’s poor start, but mostly thanks to his own powerful legs. Now tied for the record, Van der Poel shared his thoughts after the race.
Van der Poel Also Had Bad Luck
Van der Poel was aware that Van Aert had to start from the fourth row. Although he did not admit it before the race, he planned to attack hard from the beginning. And that’s exactly what he did.
“I had a good start and felt strong. I wanted to open up a big gap early to discourage my chasers, and it worked,” he said.
He was quick off the line in the opening meters, but then Toon Aerts passed him on an uphill section. “I knew where I needed to be to execute my plan. When you create a gap that quickly, it gives you wings,” Van der Poel said, exuding confidence.
However, he was not spared from misfortune. During the broadcast, it became clear that he had suffered a puncture, and it took some time before he could change his bike. “It happened after the first pit zone, so I had to ride quite a while on a flat front tire. I took it carefully because I was really afraid of mechanical issues. I even asked for the tire pressure to be increased slightly.”
| The familiar sight: Mathieu van der Poel in the rainbow jersey!
Happy to See Van Aert on the Podium
Despite this setback, nothing could stop Van der Poel from charging towards his record-tying seventh world title. A dream come true. “You don’t think about this when you win your first world championship. I can hardly believe it now. This record stood for so long (previously held by Erik De Vlaeminck).”
In the post-race studio, Van der Poel also had kind words for Van Aert. “The podium looks better with him on it. He’s always a tough competitor, and it’s unfortunate he had to start from the fourth row. But it’s great for cyclocross that he was here today.”
This latest triumph cements Van der Poel’s legendary status in cyclocross, and his rivalry with Van Aert continues to elevate the sport.
