Mathieu Van der Poel is in great shape. He proved it on Saturday, December 16, for his return to competition, by handily winning the Herentals cyclo-cross, in Belgium. The five-time world champion was in the lead, from start to finish of this event counting towards the X2O regularity challenge.
His great rival Wout van Aert, winner last week for his return to Essen (Germany), was not there; the Belgian is currently on training in Spain with his Jumbo-Visma team.
In his absence, the British Tom Pidcock took on the role of main opponent of “MVP” in the Flemish undergrowth. Alas, the latter was surprised from the start by the departure of Van der Poel. He finished 2nd, almost 30 seconds behind the winner. The Dutchman Lars van der Haar completes the podium.
Vers le record d’Eric De Vlaeminck ?
“I felt good from the start. I saw that I had made a gap so I did my race alone. It feels good to be back. Cyclo-cross is my first love,” said Mathieu Van der Poel after his recital.
In any case, he has started his winter season perfectly, the highlight of which will be the World Cup in Tabor (Czech Republic) on February 4, 2024. A race at the end of which he intends to win a sixth rainbow jersey, after those gleaned in 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023.
A success would allow him to come within one length of the absolute master of the discipline, Eric De Vlaeminck, winner of seven world titles between 1966 and 1973.
On Sunday, unlike Pidcock, the Dutchman will skip the World Cup round in Namur. His first confrontation with Van Aert is scheduled for December 22 in Mol, still in Belgium.