📸 Why Mathieu van der Poel isn't thinking about mud, rain and cold (yet): "Unbelievable!"
Cyclo-crossTuesday, 19 November 2024 at 14:25
Mathieu van der Poel, when will we hear from you? The Dutch rider from Alpecin-Deceuninck went on holiday after the Gravel World Championships, and apart from relaxing, smiling and lounging in the sun in Spain, we haven't seen much of him. Is he going to dive into cyclo-cross? Photos show that that is not in the cards just yet.
Van der Poel has been thoroughly enjoying himself in recent weeks. After his world title in gravel racing, he did participate in a criterium in Spain, but other than that, we saw him winning a duel against a rally car, running a half marathon in Denia, and pushing his brother David to his limits under the Spanish sun.
So the bike has never been far away, but cyclo-cross doesn’t seem to be on the agenda for a while just yet. Together with his buddy Freddy Ovett, he is fully enjoying the glorious weather around Calpe. The training duo cycled over eighty kilometers on Spanish roads on Monday – while basking in the sunshine. Enviable images compared to the chilly autumn days you and I might be experiencing.
"Weather – unbelievable," Ovett says, seemingly quoting Van der Poel. And indeed, with temperatures around twenty degrees and sunny skies, the weather around Calpe is perfect. Training in the south still seems much more appealing to Matje than the cold, muddy fields of Belgium. And who can blame the former world champion?
Van der Poel racking up kilometers in the Spanish sun
Il Lombardia 2024
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Latest Comments
- 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
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024