“It’s a bit much” – Thymen Arensman believes brutal world championships course was too difficult

Tadej Pogacar secured back-to-back victories at the UCI Road World Championships in Kigali, confirming once again his status as the best rider in the world, if not of all time. Behind him, Dutch leader Thymen Arensman endured a day that promised plenty but ended in frustration. The 25-year-old, fresh from two Tour de France stage wins and ninth in the world time trial a week earlier, was forced to abandon after severe cramps in the final laps. What began as a solid ride alongside compatriot Bauke Mollema turned into a long and painful struggle to the finish that he could not complete.

"It was tough, as everyone expected and will say," Arensman admitted to In de Leiderstrui, after struggling on Mount Kigali before finding himself with Mollema on the circuit. The pair had settled into a group aiming for a top-20 finish, which seemed within reach for the Dutchman. "I think I did everything right and was in a really good group, together with Bauke," he said. "Even though we were only riding to get to the finish and a top twenty, which is still a good result."

That objective slipped away on the Kigali Golf climb, a ramp Arensman compared to the Cauberg in Valkenburg. "I turned up that, we call it the Cauberg, Kigali Golf climb and completely cramped up, so it's still a long two laps. I'm not going anywhere if I cramp up. I still had half a lap to go, including that cobbled climb, and I was cramped the whole time."

The disappointment was clear for a rider who had targeted consistency across both disciplines at these championships. "I'm disappointed, because I still felt really good enough to be in the top twenty. That's a shame," he said, before adding that he could not yet explain what went wrong. "I think I drank enough. These are special circumstances, so it is what it is."

For Arensman, the conditions in Rwanda were unlike anything in Europe, and he questioned whether the course length exaggerated the difficulty. "I think it's also a good idea to do two laps shorter, because this was perhaps a bit over the top. Especially with these conditions and at altitude, it's a bit much," he reflected.

Despite his frustration, the Dutchman refused to blame preparation, stressing that the race exposed everyone to the same challenges. "There are always small things, and that's not ideal, but I think everyone felt something in their gut. We did our best, and unfortunately, for Sam and a few women, it just fell short. It's not down to preparation," he concluded.