Machine-like Mathieu van der Poel creates shockwaves in Alicante training

Alpecin-Deceuninck are training in Spain and within the rides on the road, some of the team's figures begin their cyclocross season this weekend. They have tested out their skills in the beaches of Alicante and Mathieu van der Poel's level impressed.

"I can't say it any other way: Mathieu rode like a machine. I still know a little about what it is like to ride on the beach. And then you see Mathieu. The difference with the others is so striking," team manager Christoph Roodhoft told Het Nieuwsblad. "Timo Kielich and Gianni Vermeersch are not the worst cyclists on the bike, but compared to Mathieu they suddenly seem like beginners. I look at that and I don't understand it."

Words like this can only show that technically speaking, the Dutchman could be very well on his way to a good performance in tomorrow's debut in Herentals - his first race as the new World Champion off-road. Van der Poel will be looking to build towards the World Championships and decided to start his season one week earlier than initially planned. "The plan was always to return from Spain on Wednesday. Mathieu felt like racing, Herentals is close to home and organizer Golazo naturally wanted to respond to our request to start," Roodhoft explained.

"Mathieu's competition schedule is a tough one, but everything is nicely organized. Last year we did one cross before the winter training camp and the rest afterwards. That wasn't the best choice, because everything got stuck very close together. Now the program is better structured."

Asked as well about the absence of Wout van Aert and Tom Pidcock from the World Championships, he concluded: "Too bad for the sport. Let me leave it at that... His program is currently fixed until the Cyclocross World Championships. Afterwards, in consultation, we will take the right exit at the right time."