Mathieu Van der Poel is one of the fiercest and most versatile cyclists of his generation and in global cycling history. With a spectacular medal tally behind him in cyclocross, mountain and road, he is one of the most versatile cyclists on the scene, standing out above all in classic races and one-day tours, where he attacks like a whirlwind and always opts for the victory to the end.
Unfortunately, the reigning discipline - the road - played a trick on him at the end of the 2022 season, and it is not exactly something strictly sporting. Last September, during the Cycling World Cup that was taking place in Australia, Mathieu Van der Poel was arrested at his hotel for allegedly assaulting two teenagers who were interrupting his sleep, "continually knocking on the door" he explained to the means the Dutch cyclist. With the altercation, he was forced to spend the night declaring at the police station, going to bed -probably nervous and in a bad mood- at 5 in the morning, having to play the World Cup stage in Helensburgh (Australia) the next day, with 267 km travel. Van der Poel, exhausted, abandoned the first kilometers of the test, closing his 2022 season in a gray way.
These scenarios are not typical of a predator like "MVDP", a true crack of the classics. Nothing could go better to reverse the spirit than to return to fight in the mud.
The Hulst circuit suited him like a glove. Tremendously technical, the route was also marked by the rain and the subsequent mud that was generated on the ground. With their faces and bodies covered in mud, the cyclists had to fight on tracks where the mud buried their wheels and did not allow them to get the cadence to climb the steep inclines of the circuit. It is there where the good old Mathieu pulled his claws and managed to prevail.
The return of Van der Poel seemed timid and discreet. On a gray day, he was coming off the last grid and it seemed difficult for him to catch up with a Pidcock in great shape and a Lars Van der Haar who had a crushing pace at the start. However, the Dutch star always gives a show. With a brilliant start, he gained 10 positions in the first lap and reached the lead formed by Iserbyt and Van der Haar. Unfortunately a spectacular fall relegated him to ninth place, but Van der Poel would not give up.
At hunting pace and leading a third group, Van der Poel was gaining places while at the head of the race nervousness and tension caused falls or standing on the ground. At the beginning of the fourth lap, Van der Poel had managed to reach the head of the race, where Iserbyt, after a couple of falls, had relegated several places and Van der Haar did not show that he could hold the pace much longer.
Seeing the hurricane coming his way, Pidcock broke away, leaving behind a very competitive Sweeck who had Van der Poel hot on his heels. He finally managed to overtake the Belgian and decided to go for Pidcock who would hold up well until a muddy climb that choked him, having to put his foot down, making the Van der Poel stream inevitable that came like thunder from behind. Even so, the British rider - and European champion - would not give up and would be chasing MVDP until breaking his rear wheel on the last lap and being forced to retire.
At the end of the race, Van der Poel enjoyed a resounding and hard-fought victory that removed any kind of ghost from the past. Finally, he was joined on the podium by the Belgian couple who lead the general standings so far: Sweeck and Iserbyt, in second and third place, respectively.
However, in his statements after the race, Van der Poel was self-critical and believes that he still has to improve more for the next races. “I still need to train more and compete in more races to be on top. This victory is very exciting, it had been a long time since he had won a cyclo-cross race”.
Van der Poel makes this reflection because he wants to be at the top of the big cyclocross events that take place during the Christmas season. “Technically I made several mistakes, but it is still normal. I must train more to improve my technique. My condition is good after a great preparation and I want to be among the best during the Christmas races”.
