Van der Poel can laugh at the 'curse of the world champion': "I'll gladly accept that one!"

Alpecin-Deceuninck recently unveiled the rest of Mathieu van der Poel's schedule as the gold medalist in the rainbow jersey. The 28-year-old Dutchman was set to showcase his new jersey for the first time at the post-Tour Criterium of Etten-Leur. However, the Bretagne Classic - Ouest-France was slated to be his first official road race in the iconic jersey. Just before the commencement of this grueling 258-kilometer race through the Breton hills, a press event took place, attended by numerous MVDP supporters and media representatives, including IDLProCycling.com.

And it wasn't just dozens, but rather hundreds of enthusiastic young cycling fans who had one simple wish: to get an autograph from their sports hero. The Alpecin-Deceuninck team must be accustomed to such scenes by now, but the https://twitter.com/YourivndnBerg/status/1698264850487505395" target="_self">excitement surrounding the Belgian WorldTour team's star was as intense as ever. Mathieu van der Poel's popularity knows no bounds, even in France, his mother's home country. It seemed that the kids who didn't crawl under the tightly stretched barriers were the minority at times. The air was filled with excited screams, countless smartphones thrust toward him for photos, and a constant presence of media. For many superstars, regardless of their field, this level of attention might become overwhelming, but Van der Poel appears to handle it all with remarkable composure.

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Van der Poel got over World Cup mountain bike disappointment fairly quickly

Before the "fan frenzy" reached its peak, there was a brief moment for some questions directed at the road race champion of the World Cycling Championships in Glasgow. As we all know, this great champion delivered a masterful solo performance to claim the world title on Sunday, August 6. Just under a week later, on Saturday, August 12, the multi-talented athlete aimed for a triple victory: a World Cup triumph in mountain biking would have adorned him with the coveted rainbow jersey in his three favorite disciplines. Unfortunately, the race on the 29-inch wheels did not unfold as anticipated. After just three minutes, Van der Poel endured a crash that shattered his dream into countless fragments. However, when speaking about this disappointment in Bretagne, more than three weeks later, he revealed that he had moved past it quite swiftly.

"I spent a few days with friends in Marbella. Did I have a good time in the Spanish party town? Well, it wasn't too shabby. It was only a brief three-day getaway," he recounted. Nevertheless, Van der Poel acknowledged that the mountain biking letdown lingered for a while. He admitted, "It does stay with you for a bit, of course. But fortunately, it didn't last too long. I had a few days of self-reflection." In any case, Van der Poel now has the highly sought-after rainbow jersey in road cycling within his reach. He expressed how wearing that jersey during training sessions has heightened his appreciation for it. "When you start training in a jersey like that, you realize just how special it is. I'm even more motivated now to showcase even more remarkable achievements," he affirmed.

In several sports, but particularly in cycling, there's a phenomenon known as the "curse of the world champion." This refers to the idea that a team or athlete who becomes a world champion may not perform as well or 'properly' in the following year. It's primarily a symbolic concept, but many world champions have a lingering concern about it. When IDLProCycling.com asked Van der Poel if he's worried about this curse, he responded with a broad smile. "No, I'm definitely not afraid of that. And even if that curse exists, it'll catch me while I'm wearing a beautiful rainbow jersey. I'll gladly take that!"

Video: Crowds all around Van der Poel in Bretagne