🚵🇧🇪 | Daar is in de stromende regen de aanval van Van der Poel. Alleen Laurens Sweeck kan als zandspecialist mee. Wat nu? #Superprestige 📺 Stream cross op HBO Max
Incredible: Van der Poel admits after cyclo-cross in Mol that he won without warming up: "But that happens often"
Cyclo-crossMonday, 23 December 2024 at 21:50
Two cyclo-cross races, two wins. After Zonhoven, the Zilvermeercross in Mol was also right up the alley of Mathieu van der Poel, who eliminated the competition just over the Dutch border. The Dutch rider was satisfied with his victory but missed some perfection in the execution. That is what he told IDLProCycling.com afterward.
After Zonhoven, there was no time for celebration, but Van der Poel said he enjoyed his victory on Sunday. "You build up to it, and it's always nice when it turns out better than expected. I'm still enjoying it," said the Dutch rider, who likes to ride in Mol.
"I like competing in the sand. The cyclo-cross location where I've been training for 15 years consists mainly of sand. That's something I've liked doing since I was a kid, and on the cyclo-cross calendar, there aren't that many sand track races anymore, so it's nice. You can straighten things out on strength in the sand, but it's still mainly about technique and following the right track," he revealed before the start.
Read more below the photo!
Van der Poel didn't feel the perfect rhythm in the sand
Afterward, the Dutch rider - with the victory secured - came to the same conclusion, although on TV, it seemed to be a little more difficult than Sunday. "I always like riding in the sand; it was fun. The plan was not like in Zonhoven to ride a whole time alone. I needed a while to find my rhythm, but I could head up front and choose my lines once I found it. Lap after lap, it improved in the sand, and that felt good," he commented,
However, Laurens Sweeck was able to offer him some resistance. "We all know Laurens can ride very well through the sand, so it's not like I didn't expect that. Laurens was able to counter properly, and with me, it took me a while to ride well through the sand. I got stuck while he got through well. So we got back together, but I had already started my attack and kept going without looking back. Only for the last laps, I could find the good lines, and from then on, it went better and better."
Read more below the video!
Van der Poel did not warm up in Mol and will celebrate Christmas in Belgium
Remarkable: Van der Poel stayed warm inside when all his competitors were warming up. "That happens more often, that I don't do any warming up. I sometimes feel better not warming up than warming up. You do the recon, of course, so that's also warming up," explained the Alpecin-Deceuninck man.
And what is next? Christmas, although Van der Poel hints that he is not a Christmas kind of guy. "I am more and more often abroad. That's why it's nice to stay in Belgium again and be here with friends and family. Given the weather forecast with rain, it will be a tough cross in Gavere, but that's what I like," he briefly looks ahead to the cyclo-cross race programmed on Boxing Day.
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Latest Comments
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024