Van der Poel Shifts Focus too Mountain Biking Worlds After Intense Road Race in Leuven
Leuven, Belgium – September 3, 2023 - After a grueling road race in Leuven where he narrowly missed victory, Mathieu van der Poel is turning his attention to the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Crans-Montana on September 14th. The Dutch star views his recent road efforts as valuable readiness for the demanding mountain bike course, despite a challenging finish.
Van der Poel finished second to Arnaud De Lie in leuven, pushing his rival all the way to the line. He secured a time bonus that briefly put him ahead, but ultimately lacked the final sprint power to claim the overall win. “I’m positive about my form. This was exactly what I needed. The effort I had to put in in the final is very similar to that of a mountain bike race,” Van der Poel told VTM News on Sunday. He acknowledged pushing his limits, stating, “I went all out for that first sprint, but I was at my limit. On Friday in Geraardsbergen [where he won the stage over De Lie] I also noticed that I was at my limit pretty quickly.”
This transition to mountain biking isn’t new for Van der Poel, a multi-disciplinary cyclist known for his success in cyclocross, road racing, and mountain biking. He’s already begun preparations, focusing on adapting to the different riding position. “I sat on the mountain bike a few times beforehand to get used to that position. That’s the biggest adjustment for me,” he explained.
He previously competed in the UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, earlier this year, but a crash resulted in a fractured wrist, prematurely ending his race. Van der Poel is hoping for a different outcome this time, planning to spend several days familiarizing himself with the Les Gets course starting Wednesday. “the technique will come naturally once I can ride the course every day starting Wednesday. I did the same thing in May in the run-up to Nove Mesto, but this time I hope to finish.”
However, Van der Poel faces a challenge in Les Gets due to a lack of accumulated UCI points, meaning he will start the race from the fourth row. “I’ll only start from the fourth row, and in mountain biking, the start is even more crucial than in cyclocross,” he noted. Despite this disadvantage, he believes his recent road racing has boosted his fitness. “The chance of me becoming world champion is still slim after this week,but I do think I made a difference this week fitness-wise. Now for a few days of rest, and then Les Gets will be the real test.”
Evergreen Context: Van der Poel’s Multi-Discipline Career
mathieu van der Poel is widely considered one of the most versatile cyclists in the world. he has achieved significant success across multiple disciplines:
cyclocross: A three-time UCI Cyclocross World Champion (2019, 2020, 2021).
Road Racing: Victories include stages in major Grand Tours like the Tour de France and a win at the Amstel Gold Race.
Mountain Biking: He has competed in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup and World Championships,demonstrating his ability to transition between disciplines.
Van der Poel’s ability to excel in such diverse cycling formats is attributed to his exceptional bike handling skills, powerful physique, and tactical intelligence. His participation in the Mountain Bike World Championships adds another layer to his already notable career, showcasing his commitment to pushing his limits across all facets of the sport.Key Facts Preserved:
Dates: September 3, 2023 (article date), September 14 (World Championships), Friday (Geraardsbergen race), Sunday (golf/interview), next week (Les Gets race), May (Nove Mesto preparation).
Locations: Leuven (Belgium), Crans-Montana (Switzerland), Geraardsbergen (Belgium), Les gets (France), Nove Mesto (Czech Republic).
Names: Mathieu van der Poel, Arnaud De Lie.
Quotes: All quotes from Van der Poel are retained verbatim.
Events: UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, UCI Mountain Bike World Series, road race in Leuven, crash and wrist fracture in Nove Mesto.
* Details: Starting row disadvantage due to UCI points, importance of the start in mountain biking.
