In the last eight years, seven World Cups were divided between them Mathieu van der Poel (2015, 2019, 2020 and 2021) and Wout van Aert (2016, 2017 and 2018). They only let ‘escape’ the one from 2022, in which neither of them participated, as it was held in the United States and with the road season already in mind. That was taken advantage of by the British Tom Pidcock to dress in rainbow. The man from Ineos will not fight today (Eurosport, 2:45 p.m.) to defend the title, since he is preparing the classics. There will be 40 runners who will start with, according to local forecasts, 40,000 fans for the venue in one town, Hoogerheide, with barely 7,000 inhabitants and which, located in the Netherlands, borders Belgium.
It is a frequent test in the World Cup, with the name of GP Adrie van der Poel… Mathieu’s father and circuit designer, a job he does for other appointments. A problem for Van Aert? The other way around. “I won almost every World Championship that Adrie drew, So I have nothing to fear. On the contrary, I praise it. It’s a beautiful and safe circuit”, said Wout, a few words that were thanked by Adrie, world champion in 1996, who insists: “It is more difficult than everyone thinks. It will be seen in the race”. Van Aert, Van der Poel and Pidcock starred in a winter on the mud with races to remember, but after the absence of the latter (he did not win any test with the other two rivals present), everything that is not a one-on-one between the Dutch and Belgian it will be a big surprise. There will be other high-level riders such as the Belgian Eli Iserbyt, Michael Vanthourenhout, Laurens Sweeck, the Dutch Lars van der Haar and the French Clemente Venturini, who aim to fight for the remaining place on the podium.
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In Spanish key, two will be the representatives: Kevin Suárez and Felipe Orts. The latter, with outstanding performances during the season, warned of his great form and his great goal: the top ten. His best World Cup result so far is 12th. In another dimension will be Van Aert (13 races this winter, nine wins) and Van der Poel (14 and six). In the face-to-face between the two, six-four for the Belgian, slightly favorite. The obstacles, located in the final part of the course and which Van der Poel tends to pass better, were closely watched in practice. It will be an important point, as was seen yesterday in the women’s category. There was local delight and a Dutch hat-trick with Vam Empel, Pietere and Brand. Lucía González (19th), the best Spanish. Today, the final pulse of the season.