Van der Haar immediately puts his lessons into practice on an incredible day: "You don’t experience that often"

Van der Haar accelerated early in the cyclo-cross race at a smart moment. When the rest of the lead group swapped bikes and teammate Thibau Nys was in front, he took off on the other side of the barriers. Eli Iserbyt later tried to close the gap, but the bird had already flown. “I already felt on the rollers that my legs were good. And I felt good during the race too. I wanted to wait a bit longer, but I got the chance when they went into the pits, so I thought: I have to give it a go,” Van der Haar explained in the flash interview.

Van der Haar’s legs kept spinning like a rocket all the way to the finish. “Yes, I just felt really good, especially on the technical sections.” However, doubt crept in during the last lap. “In the final lap, I was really worried about my chain because it was almost skipping. I didn’t dare to shift anymore.”

Fortunately for Van der Haar, everything stayed in place, and the first goal of this important weekend was achieved. “We’ve been planning for this ‘challenging’ weekend since August,” said the Dutchman, referring to the logistical nightmare as the whole circus heads to Spain, where the European Championship is scheduled for Sunday in Pontevedra. “But I said: I want to do everything I can to perform well this weekend.”

It was for this reason that Van der Haar was deeply disappointed with his third place in Overijse last Sunday—not because he missed out on the win, but because he never got to show his true potential. “The legs just didn’t feel good, just like in Ruddervoorde. I wanted to be patient, thinking my legs would come through toward the end. But ultimately, I waited too long, so someone else initiated the race, and you end up chasing from behind,” he explained at the time.

When confronted with those words after the Koppenbergcross, Van der Haar nodded immediately. “I didn’t want to wait any longer. Maybe I could have held off for half a lap more, but I got an opportunity when the others went into the pits, so I went all-in.” It became a day he won’t soon forget. “The way I felt today was truly special. I had the super day I wanted. I rode the last two laps with reserves, and that’s such a unique feeling, especially in a race like the Koppenberg. You don’t experience that often.”

“I’ve gained a hundred percent confidence here,” Van der Haar concludes. But he knows it won’t be directly applicable to the European Championship on Sunday. “You can’t compare the Koppenberg to what we’ll face on Sunday in any way. It will be a sprint race, a gravel criterium. That’s a night-and-day difference, so it might feel and play out completely differently. The fitness and form are there, so I can compete, but the style of racing will be entirely different.”