No man is an island, however Mathieu van der Poel has lengthy inhabited a peninsula that enables him to stay biking on his personal phrases. He races the place he needs, when he needs, and as he needs.
The world champion’s preparation for the Tour of Flanders has been a living proof. Whereas oceans of ink have been poured into outlining the why and wherefores of the unlucky Wout van Aert’s untraditional build-up to the Ronde, Van der Poel’s far lighter race schedule scarcely warranted a second look or a whiff of questioning.
After annexing a sixth cyclocross world title in February, the Dutchman delayed the beginning of his highway season till Milan-San Remo, however there was no signal of rustiness as he piloted Jasper Philipsen to victory with a man-of-the-match efficiency.
Per week later, he cruised to a solo victory on the E3 Saxo Basic after which produced an all-action show to position second at Gent-Wevelgem.
Even earlier than the crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen that ended Van Aert’s spring, Van der Poel was the clear favorite for Sunday’s Tour of Flanders.
Even on this period of polarised coaching and race peaking, no person will get as much as full velocity from a standing begin fairly like the present world champion.
“He’s capable of prepare very effectively on the extent he’s supposed to coach on,” Alpecin-Deceuninck supervisor Christoph Roodhooft informed Cyclingnews this week.
The newest race content material, interviews, options, opinions and professional shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
“Prior to now, individuals at all times thought that riders wanted races, however these days they’re to this point superior with coaching approaches and all the things. We all know precisely what’s wanted to succeed in the best degree attainable.”
Van der Poel and Alpecin-Deceuninck
Van der Poel has been with Christoph and Philip Roodhooft for his total senior profession, having beforehand raced for the affiliated junior outfit, and there was little shock when he just lately agreed a brand new contract that may preserve him on board till the tip of 2028 and so most likely the tip of his skilled profession.
There may need been larger riches on provide elsewhere, however it was tough to think about Van der Poel choosing a change of setting. The complete ecosystem of his present crew has been rising with him since he was a young person, nourishing his aspirations in highway, cyclocross and mountain bike. All alongside, his father Adrie has served as an off-the-cuff advisor to the crew.
“I’m in fact very pleased that he’s staying with us,” Christoph Roodhooft stated.
“However we additionally wished him to have a superb feeling in regards to the setting he needed to work in and stay in. Cash is a sure proportion of it, however we’re happier that he now stays with us with 100% dedication as effectively. Cash is necessary, in fact, and the cash is within the vary – however we’re pleased that the full bundle is the factor that made him most pleased.”
Van der Poel has at all times loved a tailor made bundle on the Roodhoofts’ crew, whose scope grew in tandem along with his ambitions. A decade in the past, when Van der Poel restricted himself primarily to the cyclocross circuit, the crew operated at Continental degree below the BKCP-Powerplus banner.
In the summertime of 2018, when Van der Poel voiced his want to pursue a profession on the highway, the Roodhoofts realised they needed to transfer with him. A Skilled Continental licence was procured for the next season. Since then, the crew round Van der Poel has continued to evolve and develop in measurement and success however his standing on the centre of their firmament has remained unchanged, and so, too, it appears, has his mindset.
“The one change is that he went from being a young person to an grownup, that’s all that’s modified,” Roodhooft stated.
“The crew grew, in fact, and it was an adaptation for him and an adaptation for us. It went quick, however it nonetheless went day-to-day, and I feel that’s why it felt pure for each of us.”
In sport, the connection between athlete and supervisor usually change into extra advanced because the years go by and circumstances change, however Van der Poel and the Roodhoofts have at all times introduced a united entrance, most notably throughout the lows alongside the way in which, corresponding to his arrest on the eve of the 2022 Worlds in Wollongong.
It most likely helps that Van der Poel enjoys an autonomy afforded to few different riders. Regardless of the rainbow jersey on his again and the Belgian sponsor throughout his chest, as an example, Van der Poel is avoiding the media highlight forward of the Ronde. The crew left the choice as much as the rider himself, and he most popular to not communicate.
“In fact, when there are negotiations happening, it’s a bit harder, which is regular, however on a private degree, there was by no means actually a tough second with Mathieu,” Roodhooft stated.
“We’ve at all times been collectively. That was my feeling and I feel he felt a bit the identical.
“We have been collectively in Australia, we have been collectively when he had his again issues, we have been collectively when he had the crash in Tokyo. We’ve been by way of lots collectively and we tried to assist one another as a lot as attainable. In fact, he’s getting older, however it nonetheless appears like a superb relationship. We depend on one another.”
Van der Poel targets a 3rd Tour of Flanders and fifth Monument of his profession
On Sunday, Van der Poel will purpose to assert a record-equalling third Tour of Flanders and fifth Monument of his profession.
With 2023 Tour of Flanders winner Tadej Pogacar and the injured Van Aert each absentees, something aside from a Van der Poel victory in Oudenaarde shall be classed as the most important Ronde upset since Nick Nuyens denied Fabian Cancellara in 2011.
The burden of favorite is one which Van der Poel will put on calmly, very like his rainbow jersey.
Already a celebrity since his youth, he was higher outfitted than most world champions in historical past for the pressures and obligations of his new title.
“He was already 5 occasions world champion in cyclocross. That was his world and that was large already,” Roodhooft stated.
“So ultimately, it adjustments extra for the surface than it does for ourselves.”
It stays to be seen how a lot Van Aert’s absence will alter the substance of this Ronde.
Visma-Lease A Bike would possibly ordinarily have been an ally of circumstance in controlling the race early on. Now, the onus falls squarely upon Van der Poel and his crew, which is able to embrace Jasper Philipsen, Søren Kragh Andersen, Silvan Dillier and Gianni Vermeersch, woh has recovered after being concerned within the Dwars door Vlaanderen crash.
“What Mathieu expects from us, we are able to ship for positive on Sunday with the crew we’ve,” Roodhooft stated. “I’m not afraid, by no means.”
Van der Poel was left comparatively remoted after the Taaienberg at E3 Harelbeke however then he didn’t want a lot assist throughout the virtuoso show that adopted.
Two days later Alpecin-Deceuninck opted handy Van der Poel the prospect to do it alone once more at Gent-Wevelgem quite than holding him again to trip for Philipsen.
Although Van der Poel was in the end overwhelmed by Mads Pedersen, Roodhooft positioned little truck in the advantage of hindsight. With a expertise like Van der Poel, the conventional guidelines don’t apply. They’ve identified that since he was a young person. Even his defeats appear to hit in another way.
“For many groups, the logical strategy would have been to attend and to go together with Jasper,” he stated. “However we can’t do this with the world champion, and particularly when it’s Mathieu van der Poel.”
Get limitless entry to all of our protection of the Spring Classics – together with reporting, breaking information and evaluation from the Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Flanders and extra. Discover out extra.
