Still busy with cyclo-cross, but Van der Poel is already looking ahead to the road season: "Won't start with San Remo"

Mathieu van der Poel is back! The world champion showed all his competitors his skills from the beginning of the cyclo-cross race in Zonhoven. In other words, the world champion did not disappoint. However, things have changed, with a view to this winter's big goal. In addition, the rider from Alpecin-Deceuninck revealed his program for after the winter.

Van der Poel was good, exceptional even. He is always good in his first cyclo-cross of the season, but he didn't expect it to be this successful. After all, he had only finished two cyclo-cross training sessions. Last year, he felt he peaked too early in his season. "That's why I changed my approach slightly. I want to be the best version of myself at the World Championships," he told NOS.

On Monday, he will be at the start of the cyclo-cross in Mol, a race where he would normally face Wout van Aert. But his Belgian rival is ill and is postponing his return to the field. "Yes, of course, I regret that," Van der Poel responded. "I like to compete against Wout. He has always been a tough opponent who pushes me to the limit. Hopefully, he will return to Loenhout (Azencross, December 27, ed.)."

Read more below the photo!

No Milan-San Remo, but Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico.

Meanwhile, most road teams are well into their preparation for next season, but Alpecin-Deceuninck and Philip Roodhooft are allowing Van der Poel to work through his winter program first. "It's still quite a long way off to make any decisions about that," the team boss says. "The record number of cyclo-cross World Championships is all that remains for me here. I'm working on that; otherwise, I wouldn't be racing right now."

His pupil already revealed something more about his start on the road. "It will be a bit like other years," he said. But one difference is already clear. "Normally, I won't start with San Remo this year, but with a race like Paris-Nice or the Tirreno-Adriatico." Last year, Van der Poel started his road season in La Primavera, but so this year will be different.

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