Van der Haar believes Netherlands can offer Belgium a lot of resistance at the European Cyclocross Championships: "Stronger team than before"

Lars van der Haar narrowly missed out on victory in the Superprestige race in Ruddervoorde on Saturday. The Dutch champion began the extremely exciting final lap with a small lead over Eli Iserbyt but ultimately had to concede victory to the Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal rider after a strong race. IDLProCycling.com managed to catch up with the friendly Baloise Trek Lions runner-up for a chat after the West Flanders cyclocross event!

Van der Haar had an exceptionally good race, although it was certainly not easy, as he initially mentioned in the flash interview. "I tried to make a move around the middle of the race, but it didn't work out well. After leading for a lap, you really feel that here. I also had a moment where I couldn't clip into my pedal, and that put me at the back of the race." However, the 'Terrier of Woudenberg' made a convincing recovery and took the initiative in the final laps, with Iserbyt and Michael Vanthourenhout (who finished third) in tow. "In the finale, I kept pushing hard because if the guys behind me made a mistake, I might have been able to get away. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be."

"I was at the limit, they were at the limit, but still they all kept coming back," said Van der Haar

The 32-year-old from Utrecht told the organization's interviewer that he had a great time on the grassy course in Ruddervoorde. "Although it was very tricky at times. Every now and then, I made a mistake at a moment when you really don't expect it. That was a bit unfortunate. I had also hoped to gain a bit more of an advantage in the sand, but unfortunately, I often found myself having to make up for time."

Despite the demanding course, the front group consisted of about eight riders for a long time. Van der Haar was also surprised that it was so difficult to make a difference. "I was just discussing it in the tent with Eli and Michael. None of us understand it. I was at the limit, they were at the limit, but still they all kept coming back. I have no idea why. Maybe it was possible to catch up to someone here. With the headwind, you had a significant advantage if you were in someone's wheel."

Van der Haar was caught between Iserbyt and Vanthourenhout

IDLProCycling.com asked the winner, Iserbyt, for further clarification regarding the team tactics employed. In the final phase, we indeed saw two Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal riders (Iserbyt and Vanthourenhout) up against one Baloise Trek Lions rider (Van der Haar). The rider from West Flanders mentioned that this team strategy was essential because he felt that his Dutch opponent was riding incredibly strongly. "Michael and I both made a few attacks. That way, we could put some pressure on Lars. However, he was incredibly strong and led the way in the last lap and a half. So I knew he had used up his best efforts, and that's why I decided to go all out. Fortunately, that was just enough," Iserbyt explained.

Van der Haar also discussed the team tactics of Jurgen Mettepenningen's proteges in the conversation with this website. The fact that the seven-time winner of the Night of Woerden took the lead in the final was intentional because he was in the minority. "In the end, I simply applied pressure, so they couldn't play the team game. And I hoped that with a good lap, I could create a gap. However, they were too strong. I would have liked to win. I also think I had the legs to win, but I was simply caught between those two. I made the choice to go all out, with the goal of forcing them to make mistakes. In the end, Eli was just too good," he praised the rider who completed a quartet in Ruddervoorde.

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Van der Haar rode a nearly perfect race and barely made any mistakes. This is confirmed by the ever-friendly cyclocross star himself. "Of course, I made a few mistakes here and there, but everyone does. At the end of the day, Eli was just a little bit better. He managed to climb each hill relatively easily, while I struggled a bit more," he admitted. Astute viewers saw Van der Haar, who is not known as a keen jumper, conquer the barriers in West Flanders by hopping over them. "I've been jumping these barriers in Ruddervoorde for many years now. So, it's not a problem anymore, they suit me perfectly," he added.

According to Van der Haar, the Dutch selection is heading to the European Cyclocross Championships with a superb squad

After the World Cup race in Maasmechelen and the Koppenbergcross in Oudenaarde, Van der Haar is heading towards the European Cyclocross Championships. When we spoke to Van der Haar in Overijse last week, he mentioned that the European Championship course is suitable for a tough battle. "It's hard to say anything about it. The last championship I raced there, we were riding in a group of fifteen. Back then, Toon (Aerts, ed.) won the title impressively. This year, we might see a similar race unfolding. The weather also plays a crucial role. Personally, I wouldn't mind if it rains heavily, making it even tougher than it already is," he expressed in Vlaams-Brabant.

In Ruddervoorde, Van der Haar delved further into the European Championships, which in recent editions often resulted in a scenario of Van der Haar representing the Netherlands against the Belgian (top) favorites (Mathieu van der Poel hasn't participated in the European Championships since 2019). Regarding the upcoming edition, Van der Haar, the European champion in 2021 and the runner-up last year in Namen, is confident that the Dutch team can compete with the Flemish top favorites (namely Iserbyt, Vanthourenhout and Thibau Nys). "I believe that we, as the Netherlands, have a stronger team than in previous years. Pim (Ronhaar, ed.), Joris (Nieuwenhuis, ed.), and Ryan (Kamp, ed.) are also in very good form, so hopefully, we can offer the Belgian team some serious resistance."