Mathieu van der Poel stands out in the ecosystem of plowing, where traditions are cultivated and passed on like old jars of jam. The “Flying Dutchman” today weighs all his weight on a discipline that he honors with his presence in small sips. So, inevitably, when the “little phenomenon” attends a cyclo-cross event, the crowds are filled with excitement. Imbued with a certain taste for the show, VDP knows how to get noticed, even before the departure.
Among passers-by, on a cobbled street stained with mud, the Dutchman appeared last week behind the wheel of a gleaming jewel, a brand new Lamborghini, in Gavere (Belgium). The image had already generated its share of comments last year, with another racing car. Long exposed to slippery terrain and twisting obstacles, Van der Poel is now one of those who are “too big” for their discipline. Each appearance, each walk of the six-time world champion is a special moment to contemplate.
Even when he’s not 100%, you can’t beat him
And too bad if the maestro composes solo. Very often, the wearer of the iridescent jersey plays without an orchestra, defeating the competition, crushing the suspense. The public does not complain about it, and even gets drunk observing the aesthete in his works. In Besançon, on Sunday, the approximately 10,000 people gathered around the Doubist circuit braved a polar cold to scrutinize a piece of legend. Toon Aerts, like Michael Vanthourenhout or Laurens Sweeck before him, tried to disrupt the procession of King VDP, in vain.
Van der Poel cuts a turn, falls… but stays in the lead: his kid on video
Video credit: Eurosport
However, it is not yet the great Van der Poel, as the person concerned conceded after a fifth victory in five races this winter. The climax of his season on tricky ruts will take place in France, in a month (February 2), with a seventh rainbow jersey at stake and a place at the top of history alongside Eric De Vlaeminck . In the meantime, VDP will continue its tour with the Sven Nys Grand Prix in Baal (Belgium) this Wednesday, January 1, to be followed in full on Eurosport and the Max application. Facing the Batavian, a horde of regulars suffers from the comparison and a cruel lightning downgrade. “Even when he (Van der Poel) is not 100%, you can’t beat him, (…) I didn’t worry about him, but rather to keep 2nd place, that’s what I could imagine better today (Sunday)“, admitted defeated Aerts (2nd) after the Besançon round at the UCI microphone. But, without the white rocket at the start, if the battles arise, interest decreases.
Ambassador and patron: after VDP the flood looms
The organizers can therefore say a big thank you to their messiah, who vampirizes the attention, the lucrative invitations and the sponsors. In a win-win deal that fills all pockets, only the adversaries can feel cheated. And again, the heavy shadow of the Dutchman’s broad shoulders captures a beam of spotlights that cyclo-cross and its stakeholders cannot afford to reject. We would even beg VDP to stain his shorts for a few more days next winter (and the following ones).
“He’s back!” : Van der Poel puts on a show after… one minute of racing
Video credit: Eurosport
In any case, there are reasons to believe it, even if certain bell sounds, sometimes even coming from the mouth of the person concerned, have revealed potential weariness. In light of the results experienced in recent seasons on the road, the program has demonstrated its virtues and it would be risky to shake up its content. After all, you don’t change a recipe that works.
