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If fans haven’t had enough of Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) going head-to-head after Sunday’s UCI Cyclocross World Championships elite men’s road race, they’ll have opportunities to see the two riders marking each others’ every move in at least four of the Spring Classics.
Both riders will start their 2023 road seasons in Strade Bianche on March 4. Van Aert won the race in 2020 when it was postponed to August because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Van der Poel claimed the victory in 2021 after getting away with Julian Alaphilippe and Egan Bernal.
Neither rider competed last season in Strade Bianche when Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) soloed for 50km to the victory. However, Van der Poel said he was targeting the race again this year.
The Van Aert/Van der Poel rivalry extends back to their junior years, and there is little to indicate it will be letting up anytime soon.
After besting Van Aert in Hoogerheide, Van der Poel said, “I think if you take one of us two away, then it makes the races less interesting for sure.”
“It’s better already for a couple of years of cyclocross and the road, there is always respect between us. Maybe you don’t appreciate it sometimes when you get beaten, but after our career, it will be something special to look back on.”
Van Aert was more succinct, posting a photo of him racing with Van der Poel on Sunday on social media with the comment, “I hate it but I love it 🥲”.
Their love-hate relationship will continue after Strade Bianche in Milan-San Remo, a race that Van Aert also won in 2020. Van der Poel’s best result was third last year behind solo attacker Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious).
Their next meeting comes in the Tour of Flanders – a race that Van der Poel claimed in 2020 by beating Van Aert in a much closer sprint than in Hoogerheide. He won again last season while Van Aert was out with COVID.
Their final clash of the Spring Classics comes at Paris-Roubaix, a race that neither of them have won but which both covet. Van der Poel finished on the podium in 2021 in third behind Sonny Colbrelli, while Van Aert won the sprint for second last year behind solo escapee Dylan van Baarle (Ineos).
Both riders are due to race the Tour de France, albeit with very different roles. Van der Poel will have free rein at the head of a team without a GC leader, while Van Aert will likely reprise his dual role of green jersey contender and super-domestique for the defending champion Jonas…
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