"A World Championship that will reverberate for a long time" - Jose de Cauwer lauds incredible men's road race

The men's elite World Championship road race in Glasgow was one that will live long in the memory believes Jose de Cauwer. The Sporza analyst lauds praise on the riders for giving fans an incredible race.

"Have we watched one of the toughest World Cups of the past 20 years, José?" Karl Vannieuwkerke asks de Cauwer post-race as part of Sporza's coverage of the 2023 World Championships. "I think so. If you look at the quality of the riders, we can talk about a World Championship that will reverberate for a long time."

For Belgium, the team to beat pre-race, three riders in the top 10 and Wout van Aert in second constitutes a good race but nonetheless, there is a tinge of disappointment de Cauwer says. "The national coach texted us with the message that the Danes were implementing the Belgians' plan," he recalls. "In the end it turned out that we actually had the strongest team in the end. Only there was one man stronger."

On that one stronger man, de Cauwer was full of praise for van der Poel. "A super-talented rider since childhood, who has received some blows around the ears at the Olympic Games," he says. "Heavy fall because of that plank, which caused him a lot of back pain. Cyclocross was suddenly under discussion. World Championship in Wollongong was also a hit in the face, but suddenly everything falls into place."

"Nobody should be angry about this. The winner is the public, cycling, perhaps the UCI. Van der Poel did not become champion in the sprint or by cheating or whatever. He was clearly the winner," he concludes. "The most talented was always Van der Poel. We assume that Wout van Aert is a bit stronger, although we also have to admit that Van Aert has to admit his superior a few times at the crucial moments. But that day will come for Van Aert."