19/02/2023

Tom Boonen on Wout van Aert: "When he races with Van der Poel, something seems to happen to him"

Tom Boonen is one of the most insightful figures within cycling's spring classics bubble, and he talks of the rivalry between Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel. He believes that Wout van Aert is close to unbeatable but Mathieu van der Poel is the one rider capable of tearing down the Belgian's confidence.

"We shouldn't dishonor Wout, he's an incredible rider and has already won races in phenomenal ways. But when he races with Van der Poel, something seems to happen to him. In a certain way, Van der Poel can make Wout that youngster of ten years ago," Boonen said in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad.

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Although in the classics this has been the case in the past, it has perhaps been more noticeable in the cyclocross season. Van Aert clearly had the upper hand in the tougher crosses over the Christmas block, but the faster tracks benefited van der Poel who proved just as strong. He struck a warning shot in Benidorm as he beat van Aert, but it was at the World Championships that the damage was seriously dealt.

"At the World Championships, Mathieu makes an incredible effort twice, so hard that he almost has to puke himself. Then you see Wout collapse. He sets and Mathieu makes his own course. When it comes to the marbles, Van der Poel is a black beast to him," Boonen continues. "That is a pitfall for every rider, because in the end everyone constantly races against the same me. Mathieu is a special guest. He doesn't have to be the best to win the race. Wout much more."

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Van der Poel beat van Aert in Hoogerheide, bringing down what had been a close to perfect cyclocross season for the Jumbo-Visma rider. Van der Poel on the other hand turned his roller-coaster winter around and into a brilliant fifth World title. They will both start their road seasons at Strade Bianche and follow virtually the exact same schedule into the opening monuments of the season.

Van Aert however will have an extra weapon in his arsenal, as the Dutch team brought in Flandres runner-up and Paris-Roubaix winner Dylan van Baarle. "You can make a comparison with the situation with Stijn Devolder and me. He won a Ronde that I could have won (Devolder won in 2008 and 2009, ed.). Doesn't matter in itself, because the team eventually won."

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This spring will be tough for the teams that must rival Jumbo-Visma, as Christophe Laporte and Tiesj Benoot have shown terrific form over last season and the team has shown strategic prowess that little could compare to. "At Jumbo-Visma they are starting to realize that starting with more than one leader offers extra possibilities," Boonen analyses.

"And you can twist and turn that, but it will take away victories from Van Aert. The place where Van Baarle can help him is also the place where he can win races himself. Dylan will be used for the last time Kwaremont, but check how many times the winning group has ridden away there. Van Baarle knows that, which is also why he went to Jumbo," Boonen concluded.