Wout van Aert stated he was stunned to take second in his first cyclocross outing of the season, crushed solely by a formidable Mathieu van der Poel efficiency within the sand in Antwerp on Sunday.
The Jumbo-Visma star completed fourth on the Highway World Championships simply 10 weeks in the past and is again after simply 5 weeks of coaching, competing for cyclocross honours.
Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), who began his cyclocross season every week earlier, rode away from his Belgian rival on the second lap of the World Cup occasion in Antwerp to win by 23 seconds.
Nevertheless, Van Aert stated later that he was “glad” with an sudden podium end on the prime degree of cyclocross on his first outing.
“It was an sudden podium end result,” stated the three-time elite World Champion. “I really feel manner higher than I anticipated earlier than, my tempo through the race was fairly regular which is a extremely good factor.
“I stunned myself at the moment. I did not assume I would be on the rostrum and sustain the tempo for an entire race. I felt good and tried to drive slightly below my restrict.”
Van Aert was the one rider who tried to comply with an explosive early tempo from Van der Poel, with the duo pulling clear from the remainder of the sector, together with Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers).
Nevertheless, the pace of a decided Van der Poel was too excessive, ensuing within the Belgian having to drop again to the chasing group.
“When Mathieu was attacking, he was manner too quick and shortly I understood I ought to concentrate on the second place. Mathieu’s assault was too intense, and it was super-fast,” Van Aert stated.
“You must be at your finest to remain near him. I understood in a short time that his tempo was too excessive. Then it was already very good for me that I might maintain off the remaining for second place.”
Van Aert was briefly in a battle for second with European cyclocross champion Michael Vanthourenhout earlier than gapping his opponent for the runner’s-up spot.
The Belgian nationwide cyclocross champion did crash when making an attempt to bunny hop the obstacles, and the 28-year-old stated he should follow his ‘cross abilities.
“The course required a variety of method, and I didn’t make many foolish errors that I felt like I might keep away from. So I’m glad with that,” Van Aert stated.
“One time, I crashed on the obstacles, which was a disgrace. I used to be just about in management on the remainder of the course, and I attempted to race a bit below my restrict to keep away from too many errors.”
Whereas Van der Poel heads to Spain for a highway coaching camp, Van Aert shall be searching for a maiden cyclocross win of the season on the World Cup spherical in Dublin subsequent weekend.
The Jumbo Visma rider will then head on a coaching camp earlier than returning to the cyclocross discipline for Christmas races when he’s set to be on the beginning line with Van der Poel on a number of events.
Each riders are concentrating on the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Hoogerheide on February 5.
“It’s an excellent begin. I now have 5 to 6 weeks of coaching in my legs. Add to that one other 5 weeks, and I am a totally completely different athlete. I can definitely enhance lots,” Van Aert stated.
“Within the coming weeks, I need to practice very effectively in order that I can compete for a win within the Christmas interval.”
