Van der Poel aims for ten wins, Van Aert tries to keep up – Belgium hopes for exciting battles ahead

With a great and faultless cyclo-cross race last Sunday, Mathieu van der Poel had the honor of putting the rainbow jersey around his shoulders for the seventh time, equaling Eric de Vlaeminck. The Belgian commentators of Sporza, Ruben van Gucht and Paul Herygers, saw an untouchable Van der Poel, as did analyst Guy van den Langenbergh at Het Nieuwsblad. They are also full of praise for Wout van Aert's performance.

"Why doesn't he go for ten? There is no wear on his racing style and manner yet. Let's hope it goes in that direction," is the first thing the Sporza commentators have in mind. "There is nothing wrong with how Van der Poel performed during the World Championship; he was excellent. His preparation was disrupted a little bit by that rib fracture. Apart from that, he won everything. Then you deserve that world title."

At the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, they, too, saw a great Van der Poel. "The Dutch rider blazed through the French mud like only the greatest can. You could not fault the new world champion. He started his race and didn't look back. This winter's goal of a seventh world title was achieved without much effort: eight cyclo-cross races, eight wins, and no one who could even come close. The dominance of the Dutch rider is unprecedented. Seeing him on the bike is nice, although there is not much of a battle."

"In terms of excitement, this was not the World Championship we had hoped for, but you could tell from the preceding categories the decision would come quickly. Mathieu was simply the best, the well-deserved world champion. For what he accomplished - seven times world champion - there is only one word: phenomenal. It all seems obvious, but it is not. And that absolute record, an eighth world title, is undoubtedly the motivation for him to stay in cyclo-cross for a while longer," Wellens said in his column for Het Nieuwsblad.

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Wout van Aert

Wout van Aert can be proud: "Second place is very nice"

Behind the seven-time world champion, Van Aert fought his way to the silver medal for the fifth time at the world championships, an achievement the Belgian can undoubtedly be proud of, according to Sporza's analysts. "In my opinion, second place is very nice. For him, I think it's better that he came in at 40 seconds than at 3 seconds. That would have been more painful." The Belgian's form heading into the spring is also in good shape. "He shows a lot of potential to dig deep again. That was the only incentive we needed to see in Van Aert heading into the spring."

Van Den Langenbergh joined his colleagues. "Van Aert enjoyed himself for an hour, which was what he was all about. The way he eventually rode to the silver medal was impressive. The Belgian star rider got what he came for: a fun ride among a crazy crowd. Wout van Aert is having fun taking second place; it has never been different. But this is what he became a cyclist for back then; this is what he wants to remain a cyclist for later."

"Van Aert is on schedule with the spring classics in mind. The decision to participate in this World Championship was the right one. Van Aert was glowing and joking, no disappointment at all. He stepped off the podium with satisfaction simply because, at the start of winter, he hadn't even thought he would be competitive now. No one but Van Aert deserved to take a seat next to the Dutch rider at this glorious moment. Van Aert respectfully bowed his head, and Van der Poel appreciated the gesture."

Cyclo-cross colleagues were deeply impressed by Van der Poel's performance

Not only do the analysts look in awe at the Dutch world champion, but his cyclo-cross colleagues are also deeply impressed. "Recently, Laurens ten Dam asked in his podcast who I think is the best cyclo-cross rider of all time, and I said Sven Nys because that was a bit of a habit until now. But I think we have to change that," Toon Aerts believes. "How Van der Poel can ride his bike and how strong he still is in the process: he is the most complete cyclo-cross rider of all time."

"I watch him with enormous admiration," continued youngster Joran Wyseure. "It's phenomenal that he does it every time. He's a deserved world champion. It's nice to watch, although I didn't see him today (laughs). But if you watch the race again, you see the lines he takes, how few mistakes he makes, and with what kind of flair he sits on his bike. Impressive."

"I watch Mathieu with much admiration," Michael Vanthourenhout concluded. "It all seems to go so easily, but you can never get ill. This is just the beginning of his road season, too. He still has to continue until October. I can only say well done."

Read also

🎥 The 10 World Championship battles between Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert: The ultimate cyclo-cross rivalry since 2012

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Coach De Knegt forced to mediate between Van Empel and Brand after Cyclo-cross World Championship: Groenendaal and Nys give their opinion

Trainer Van Aert will be happy: Two young fans return Van Aert's lost watch – "There are still honest people in the world"

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