"Due to the accumulation of efforts, it will be very difficult in the end" - Mathieu van der Poel thinks World Championships course will be harder than expected
Cycling
Mathieu van der Poel aims to go for the rainbow bands. The Glasgow circuit with it's many corners and punchy climbs will suit him, and ahead of the race the Dutchman has analysed what is to come this Sunday and his preparation.
“I have to say that I recognized a lot from the European Championship in 2018, even though that was a while ago. It seems like there are even more corners added on this lap," van der Poel said in an interview with Wielerflits. "It is almost riding from corner to corner. Whether it's too much? I think it's on the edge. Especially since we're driving that circle for a long time."
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Whilst some have criticized the route because of it's extreme technical aspect, others have no problem with it. Such a circuit packed with dozens of accelerations could suit van der Poel, an off-road expert on his own. The explosiveness and endurance aspects will be crucial and van der Poel is a leading figure on both, alongside a very strong Dutch team this will see him as a big candidate for the win.
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"Due to the accumulation of efforts, it will be very difficult in the end. Positioning is crucial, everyone knows that," he believes. "Am I happy with it? We'll have to wait and see, but normally it should be something that suits me. It is important to ride at the front and cycle around as concentrated as possible.”
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Behind him is the Tour de France, which was complicated for him dealing with illness for some days. Individually he has not reached success, but he played a crucial role in Alpecin-Deceuninck's victories and green jersey arriving in Paris. “I don't really know. I have never done a Grand Tour in preparation for a one-day race," he says, arriving in Glasgow a bit on the unknown.
"For me it is also a question of how good I will be on Sunday. It's not that I feel super tired, but to be honest I don't really feel like I'm any better because of the Tour than before. Of course I also look at my numbers. But it is difficult to estimate. I've done my blocks and I've tried to do the right incentives, but not too much. It's a bit difficult to balance that."
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Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- Fair enough. Everyone’s entitled to one and I respect yours! Nothing wrong with being a one week and GT guy if that’s his vibemij07-11-2026
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Pedalling through Day 2 of the Cycling World Championships: Unveiling the Top 10 Moments 🚴♂️🏆 What's your favourite moment of Day 2? ⤵️ #GlasgowScotland2023 #PowerOfTheBike
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