Mathieu van der Poel struck a pessimistic be aware after his defeat by the hands of Wout van Aert in Mol, saying he had ‘no rationalization’ for why he was to this point behind.
The four-time world champion was nonetheless ok for second place on the Zilvermeercross on Friday, however needed to watch his outdated foe experience away from him on the ultimate two laps.
By the end of the sandy race, Van der Poel knew he was chasing a misplaced trigger and crossed the road a full 56 seconds behind Van Aert.
“I haven’t got such an excellent feeling,” Van der Poel mentioned, in line with Het Nieuwsblad. “I did not really feel nice at the moment and I am not happy.
“I do not actually have a proof for it. We labored exhausting and perhaps I’ve to refocus a bit in direction of the following races. Hopefully I can supply a bit of extra resistance, as a result of I can’t be happy with this.”
Van der Poel started his 2022-2023 cyclocross marketing campaign with victory within the World CUp spherical in Hulst, happening to win once more in Antwerp, beating Van Aert of their first conflict of the marketing campaign.
He struggled within the snow of Val di Sole final weekend however got here to the Actual Cross Mol – often known as Zilvermeercross, seeking to kickstart a busy Christmas racing interval.
Van der Poel will subsequent race within the Gavere spherical of the World Cup on December 26, then on the Superprestige rounds in Heusden-Zolder and Diegem on December 27 and 28, earlier than rounding out the 12 months on the Actual Cross in Loenhout.
The brand new 12 months will kick off with the X2O Trophy rounds in Herentals and Koksijde earlier than the World Cup in Zonhoven on January 8. After a break for a coaching camp on the street with Alpecin-Deceuninck, he’ll experience the Benidorm World Cup on January 22 forward of the World Championships in Hoogerheide on February 5.
“Hopefully I’ll have higher legs over the Christmas interval and I can supply extra resistance, in any other case I’ll at all times be behind Van Aert,” he mentioned.
“However this has occurred to me earlier than. It’s now a matter of swallowing it after which on to the following race.”
