Antwerp’s World Cup didn’t exactly deliver the long-anticipated duel between Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. From the first lap, Van der Poel set himself apart, leaving fans and analysts to wonder if a predictable winter lay ahead. To many–including commentators, it was reminiscent of the road world champion, Pogačar. The race was over early–at least for the win.
“I had a slightly better start in the beginning,” Van der Poel told WielerFlits. “Then I immediately took the initiative in the sand, where it’s easier to ride in the lead than on a hilly course like Namur.”
He credited another factor for his stronger performance: Namur had been a last-minute addition to his schedule. “We hadn’t adjusted training for that cross. My coach agreed I could ride Namur, but I still had to keep my weekly training for the road. That left me feeling fresher for Antwerp,” the seven-time world champion explained.
Despite his dominance, Van der Poel warned against assuming easy wins this winter. “Every ‘cross has to be ridden again,” he said. “Differences will always change a bit.
There are some similar sand courses coming in Koksijde and Hofstade. Without Wout’s flat tire, it might have been a different story.”
For rivals, Van der Poel’s message is clear: keep hoping. “You always have to keep believing in it,” he said. “I’ve been in winters where I could do nothing against Wout. You try every time, just like I do against Tadej Pogačar on the road. You continue to cherish that hope.”
There’s a large Canadian contingent racing in all of the categories on Sunday’s next round of the UCI World Cup in Koksijde. Canucks are well-represented in the junior and elite races.
Canadian Magazine will have reports and results from all the races, and you can also watch it live. The Duinencross is a fun race to watch with its brutal sandy dunes, so get ready for some exciting action on Sunday.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…