Favorite role and Van der Poel comparison don't bother Del Grosso one bit: "Mathieu can get the job done here"

How could it have been any different? Tibor Del Grosso was by far the best in the U23 race at the Cyclo-cross World Championships in Liévin. The 21-year-old Dutch rider took the lead about two minutes into the race, and his competitors never saw him again. This marked Del Grosso’s second consecutive world title, after winning in the same category last year.

Winning back-to-back titles doesn’t make this one any less special, as he explained in the flash interview. “It feels amazing, just as good as the first one—I really enjoyed it,” said Del Grosso, who looked like he could have kept riding for several more laps. With nearly a one-minute lead over Belgian Kay De Bruyckere, the Dutchman crossed the finish line solo, pointing at his race number: one.

Before the race, the Dutchman was, of course, seen as the top favorite. But a race still has to be won, as the world champion himself pointed out. “I have to say, I was more nervous than for a regular World Cup race. I think I rode an almost perfect race,” he told IDLProCycling.com after the podium ceremony.

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Del Grosso on his role as favorite: "I'd rather be the favorite than have to beat one"

As the big favorite, there was plenty of talk about Del Grosso before the race. Even Mathieu van der Poel admitted that the young Dutchman reminded him of himself. But that doesn’t faze Del Grosso. “Attention is always a good thing—it means you’re doing something right. I can live with it. There was pressure last year too, so it doesn’t really matter to me. In a race like this, I’d rather be the favorite than have to beat one.”

The course in Liévin was a hot topic before the race. Some thought the track in northern France wouldn't be challenging enough, but Del Grosso saw it differently. “It was a very fair course—the best rider was always going to win here,” he explained. “I rode my own race from the start, and that worked well.”

In fact, Del Grosso considers the World Championship course in Liévin one of his favorites. “I had never raced here before, so it was a surprise when we arrived. But I was pleasantly surprised—it’s the most fun World Championship course I’ve ever ridden. Technically challenging and very fair—so, a perfect Worlds course.”

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Gone in the first lap: "I found my lines quickly"

The junior women had already raced on the same course earlier in the morning, but conditions were quite different then. Overnight frost had thawed throughout the day, changing the track significantly. “During the recon, the course was completely frozen, which made it easier because you could ride with lower-profile tires. That’s why the first lap was a bit tricky—you had to figure out whether the ground had dried up or turned muddy. But I found my lines quickly.”

Tomorrow, the elite men will bring the World Championships to an exciting spectacle. Everyone is anticipating a showdown between Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, but Del Grosso, speaking from experience, already predicted that the best rider would win. “I don’t know Wout’s current form, but this course should suit Mathieu well—he’ll get the job done here.”

Earlier this week, Van der Poel, who is Del Grosso’s teammate at Alpecin-Deceuninck, mentioned that Del Grosso had given him some tips for the race. Will he do the same this weekend? “It wasn’t really a tip. It was more about pushing him to jump the barriers. He just needs to ride his own race—the best rider will win.”

Read also

In round one, ‘Turbo’ Tibor Del Grosso already shows who’s boss: A great display of power on his way to a second world title

Top favorite, but suddenly Van der Poel faces a tough new rival in Van Aert: "I’m a bit shocked"

Nys hopeful that World Championships won’t be a one-lap show: "Van Aert’s power is close to Van der Poel’s level"

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