"There is always talk about the Big Three, but this winter we see that there is only one"

Prior to the cyclo-cross season, a lot was expected once again from Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Tom Pidcock, but after just over two weeks, the power dynamics have become quite clear. The Dutchman won his eight cyclo-cross races so far with distinction, leaving the crumbs for the Belgian and the Brit. That is also the conclusion of close rival Lars van der Haar.

Both Van Aert and Pidcock have not really been able to compete with Van der Poel. "Mathieu is bizarre. There is always talk about the Big Three, but this winter we see that there is only one," Van der Haar told IDLProCycling.com after the New Year's cyclo-cross in Baal. On January 1st, he fell three and a half minutes back compared to Van der Poel, which also had consequences for his X2O classification battle with Eli Iserbyt.

"If you take Mathieu out of the equation, it becomes a really beautiful race. Then I am within a minute of Wout, but now there is one outstanding," states Van der Haar, who also sheds light on Pidcock (who won in Namur) and Van Aert (victories in Essen and Zolder). "Pidcock is a big man, but he can't always deliver in cyclo-cross. Wout has made a clear choice for the road season and you now see that reflected in the cyclo-cross winter, which you have to prepare for specifically," says the full-time cyclo-cross rider.

"In the past, they have always both prepared for it, but Wout didn't do that this year," notes Van der Haar. "And then you see that it becomes very difficult to reach Mathieu's level, who did prepare."

NK becomes important race for Dutch riders, due to absence of Van der Poel

For Van der Haar, the reigning Dutch champion, it is a nice coincidence that Van der Poel will be in Spain during the Dutch Championships on January 14th. "The Dutch Championships will certainly be an important race, also for my teammates Pim Ronhaar and Joris Nieuwenhuis. And I also expect Ryan Kamp."

Van der Haar knows that he has to compete against his Baloise Trek Lions colleagues in Hoogeveen. "It's going to be very strange to race against my teammates, but I think it has to be done. It's the same as with your friends; you don't want to trick them. But well, we have to go into the race in the same way and then shake hands afterward."