The podium of the 2023 Men Elite world championships. One for the ages. 🥇 🇳🇱 Mathieu van der Poel 🌈 🥈 🇧🇪 Wout van Aert 🥉 🇸🇮 Tadej Pogacar #GlasgowScotland2023
“I am not thrilled here, but I am satisfied" - Wout van Aert content to settle for second in World Championship road race
CyclingMonday, 07 August 2023 at 09:52
After a truly thrilling day of racing in Scotland, Wout van Aert was forced to settle for second in the men's elite World Championship road race behind the unstoppable Mathieu van der Poel.
“I am not thrilled here, but I am satisfied with this. There was no more in it. Mathieu was the strongest," says a classy Belgian in his post-race interview with Sporza. “I was on his wheel and could hold it for 10 seconds, but then I cracked and he was gone. I then had the feeling that we all thought that second place was the highest achievable for us.”
There was still drama to come in the finale though as van der Poel slipped on the wet roads, hitting the deck. As there are no team radio's at the World Championships however the chasing trio of van Aert, Mads Pedersen and Tadej Pogacar had no idea this had happened.
“Because we have to race without earphones,” he laments frustratedly. "That makes no sense. I can't be critical enough about it. We didn't know anything about that protest either. Today we see a strong leading group and a great duel, but it sometimes influences the race. We are professionals and for us it is normal to race with earphones. It is stupid that we are not allowed to do that in the most important game.”
claps 2visitors 9600
Just in
Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter today!
Nov 05, 13:04
0
Popular news
Latest comments
- I wouldn’t assume Tadej can’t win at cross. He did a cross race, not a World Cup, a few years ago and crushed the field. It was a minor race. But he can win anywhere.mij23-12-2024
- I wonder what would happen if Pogacar attacked on the Cipressa instead of the Poggio in San Remo? Would MvdPoel still be able to follow?Ride197423-12-2024
- Debatable?Ride197423-12-2024
- The point is obvious: MVDP can beat Tadej on CX/Road and Tadej cannot. What is so hard to understand???averagecyclist22-12-2024
- Funny... one doper enabler backing the doper he enabled ! Who would have guessed.frieders322-12-2024
- Wouldn’t be here if I wasn’tMistermaumau22-12-2024
- So you're bored, got itvappaxbipmv22-12-2024
- Does everything need to have a point? If so, 99% of the internet should be wiped away. In relation to recent articles with quotes from other riders, my statement points to the ever more obvious reason why they are asked to comment on the effect of his return.Mistermaumau22-12-2024
- If anyone would be interested enough to launch an official survey as to who out of these three should shut up, I don’t know who’d win but I’m due Boonen would be way back in 3rd place.Mistermaumau22-12-2024
- And your point is what exactly?vappaxbipmv22-12-2024