Can Nieuwenhuis, Ronhaar, and Van der Haar unite against Van der Poel? "I see Mathieu as a teammate"

Many believe it would be quite surprising if Mathieu van der Poel does not emerge as the world cyclo-cross champion in Tábor. However, one should always be cautious with such predictions, as the World Championships are a unique event where anything can happen. For MVDP, the biggest threat seems to come from within, as Joris Nieuwenhuis, Pim Ronhaar, and Lars van der Haar - the trio from Baloise Trek Lions - are in great form heading to the Czech Republic. IDLProCycling.com caught up with them!

Let's start with Dutch champion Nieuwenhuis, who shared his thoughts after finishing second in the World Cup in Hoogerheide. "I'm really happy with this result," he began about his performance in the west of North Brabant. "This was the best I could achieve, so I'm satisfied. I really felt good. I notice that I can't keep up with the real accelerations on climbs, usually initiated by Mathieu or Thibau (Nys), and that's just not my thing. But I did notice that I wasn't too far behind them afterwards. And that's something I can only do on good days. Ultimately, I gambled on my last lap. I knew I could jump the barriers faster than the others. Luckily, it just worked out because I hit the second one. In the end, I secured a beautiful second place."

For Nieuwenhuis, the World Championships aren't a "make or break" event

The bearded guitarist seems confident heading into the World Championships. "I was already confident it was going to go well. I finished thirteenth in Benidorm, which was a bit less, but I had the same experience the year before. I'm actually heading to the World Championships quite relaxed, having already won the National Championships and a few other nice races. Sure, you want to perform well at the World Championships. But my season doesn't solely depend on it. The pressure isn't really there, which is nice."

In short, Nieuwenhuis feels the pressure is off. The amiable and always calm rider could never have dreamt of having such a successful cyclo-cross season. "I had set myself a few goals this year. But I didn't put pressure on myself to podium at the World Championships and win World Cups, in addition to possibly winning the National Championships. My season is already a success, so I'm heading to Tábor relaxed. I'll definitely give it my all. The form is there, so that won't be an issue. We'll see how it turns out. I'd be extremely happy with any medal. But again: if it doesn't happen, my season isn't suddenly a failure. It's not a "make or break" event. It would be disappointing, but that's all. Then we'll just move on."

Nieuwenhuis isn't planning any surprises for Van der Poel

It’s clear Nieuwenhuis is adopting a fresh mindset, but does this mean we'll see a new strategy, perhaps with unexpected moves? Nieuwenhuis says no. "Changing my mindset doesn't mean I'll change my approach to the World Championships or try to surprise anyone. I’m tackling this race just like any other, which also depends on how the course is set up. I’ve had great experiences in Tábor before. I rode a World Championship there as a first-year under-23 and came in fifth, which was a bit of a shock to me at the time, so I'm going in with good vibes," Nieuwenhuis shares, viewing Van der Poel more as an ally than an adversary. "I truly see Mathieu as a teammate. Some might take that negatively, but I believe we can really leverage each other’s strengths."

And what about Ronhaar? After speaking with the season's breakout star in Hoogerheide, where he finished third, it's clear he's in high spirits. "I'm thrilled about finishing third in Hoogerheide," he says. "Joris was incredibly strong on the last lap, making it the best outcome I could hope for. Being in the right position was key, so I aimed to stay in the top four throughout. The final lap was a full-on effort. Joris launched a brilliant attack at the barriers, creating an immediate gap. My only option was to pedal hard to the finish. Thankfully, I managed to clinch the third spot."

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Ronhaar is clearly brimming with confidence and ambition. "I'm heading to Tábor feeling great and very confident. The final rehearsal in Hoogerheide went very well. I'm very satisfied with my form and really looking forward to it. The course should normally suit me. The loop is somewhat similar to Hoogerheide. It's challenging because it's never flat. Making tactical decisions will be crucial."

Ronhaar and Van der Haar are already eyeing second place

When asked whether being teammates with Nieuwenhuis and Van der Haar would change their approach to the race, Ronhaar responded with a keen observation. "Maybe we'll be less likely to chase each other down. But other than that, not much will change. If Mathieu is on point and does his thing, the winner is already known. The real battle will likely be for second and third place."

Speaking of which, Van der Haar believes there are actually six contenders for silver, as he shared with us after the X2O Trophy in Hamme. "I was taken aback by Michael's level at the moment. He's like a phoenix risen in just a week. I think he'll be a serious threat for the podium. In my view, there are six riders with a genuine shot at second place. And then it often comes down to the form of the day. You need to have an exceptionally good day to finish second," said the "Terrier from Woudenberg," who has fond memories of Tábor. "Tábor is a course I really look forward to. It has lots of beautiful, natural obstacles. Plus, it's a fair course. That's something I appreciate."