🚵🇧🇪 | Laurens Sweeck leek gebroken, maar de zandexpert weigert op te geven. Op zijn eigen terrein wordt het gat knap gedicht. #Mol #Superprestige 📺 Stream cross op HBO Max
Laurens Sweeck "saw stars" in the wheel of Mathieu van der Poel: "That's where he finishes us off"
Cyclo-crossTuesday, 24 December 2024 at 09:39
Mathieu van der Poel claimed his second cyclo-cross win in a row in Mol, Belgium, but had to contend with a strong Laurens Sweeck along the way. The Belgian rider from Crelan-Corendon, known for his skills in the sand, even managed to close the gap to Van der Poel at one point, earning praise from the eventual winner. However, Sweeck ultimately couldn’t keep up and had to settle for second place. After the race, he reflected on his performance.
Sweeck was part of the lead group in the first few laps, but when Van der Poel made his move, he was the only one able to offer any resistance. "You could immediately feel he had an extra gear compared to the rest of us. I was able to follow for a bit and keep the gap small in the sand, but that was really just delaying the inevitable. On the sections in between, we need to catch our breath, but that’s exactly where he finishes us off."
Still, Sweeck had a strong moment during a sandy stretch at Zilvermeer, managing to catch up with Van der Poel. "When I closed the gap to Mathieu on that sandy stretch, I had a good run and felt great. But pretty quickly, I realized the pace was too high. I was seeing stars. I handled some of the sand stretches very well, but on the other parts, I was just clinging to his wheel. I made a big effort to catch up, but I didn’t have the chance to recover afterward. Like I said, it was just delaying the inevitable."
Van der Poel had some kind words for Sweeck after the race. "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!
Sweeck on Van der Poel’s edge: "It all adds up"
Van der Poel eventually pulled away and won by more than a minute. "You can feel the difference right away, because he’s just riding faster. And when you’re riding faster, you hit the sand stretches sooner, which all adds up over time," Sweeck explained.
Still, the Belgian left Mol with a good feeling about his second place. "Last week, when Mathieu wasn’t racing, this would have been a win. But today, it’s a second place. This was my third race in three days, and overall, I can look back on it with satisfaction," he concluded.
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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