Emmanuel LANGELLIER, Media365: published on Thursday September 26, 2024 at 10:36 p.m.
World title holder in the road race, Mathieu van der Poel intends to retain his title on Sunday in Zurich.
After the time trial won last Sunday by Remco Evenepoel, the Worlds road race must be held in three days in Zurich. With the double on the clock in his pocket following his coronation last year, the Belgian will want to do it again on Sunday and achieve the same feat as at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Gold medalist in the time trial and the road race, the 3rd in the last Tour de France will be the main favorite with the winner of the Grande Boucle, Tadej Pogacar. Another rider will try to do well: the defending champion Mathieu van der Poel.
A complicated but not insurmountable journey
The Dutchman is ready to sell his skin dearly on the roads of Zurich. “If I considered that I had no chance at this World Cup, I wouldn’t even start…”, slipped the rider from the Alpecin-Deceuninck team. The 273.9 kilometer route promises to be difficult with 4,400 meters of elevation gain which seems designed for puncher climbers. But it doesn’t seem insurmountable either. “It’s a difficult and muscular course but I wouldn’t describe it as extreme,” said Christoph Roodhooft, the manager of van der Poel’s training, who believes in it. After a Tour de France where he was important for Jasper Philipsen (3 stage victories) and the Olympic Games which did not turn out as he hoped, Mathieu van der Poel is mentally hungry.
Van der Poel is sharp and comes back well
Last Sunday, the Batavian rider took 2nd place in the Tour du Luxembourg, of which he won the first stage. He comes back at the right time. It must also be said that he is sharp after having lost a kilo and a half compared to his success last year in Glasgow at the Worlds. His emaciated face and sharp abdomen displayed during the last Euro created a buzz on social networks. “But it was probably a bit exaggerated,” Roodhooft commented with a smile. I believe this is explained by the fact that Mathieu wore his suit next to his skin whereas during the classics he is often dressed in several layers of clothing. It gives a very different impression. (…) In modern cycling, everyone knows how important nutrition is. Did Mathieu follow a specific diet to be a little lighter in Zurich? No, not really… » Mathieu van der Poel is ready to defend his rainbow jersey won in Scotland.
