"If there is one man who does not qualify for that curse, it is Mathieu van der Poel" - No chance of Rainbow Jersey curse striking in 2024 believes Jose de Cauwer

In recent years, a theory has emerged that suggests the winner of the men's elite road race at the World Championships and subsequent Rainbow Jersey wearer struggles the year after.

Mathieu van der Poel will be the man in the iconic jersey in 2024 and in a recent conversation with the Sporza, the Dutch superstar questioned the channel's analysts as to whether or not he himself will be a victim of the supposed curse. "Do you believe in the curse of the rainbow jersey or is that a myth?" van der Poel asked. 

"If there is one man who does not qualify for that curse, it is Mathieu van der Poel," laughs the vastly experienced Jose de Cauwer, clearly not seeing any merit in the idea. His colleague, Karl Vannieuwkerke however believes he has seen examples of the curse in the past. 

"It depends on who becomes world champion but I don't see it happening with van der Poel," Vannieuwkerke elaborates. "In the past, as a world champion you had to live in the winter with many more obligations and that curse was a consequence of that. Now the riders are better protected."