"We have nothing to prove and especially nothing to lose" – Van den Broek on Dutch approach to Rwanda world championships

Frank van den Broek will be part of the Dutch squad for Sunday’s World Championship road race in Rwanda, a demanding course that has already shaped the team’s strategy. With 2023 champion Mathieu van der Poel absent due to the mountainous profile, national coach Koos Moerenhout has chosen to bring only six riders instead of the full allocation of eight. Among them is Van den Broek, who sees the situation as a chance rather than a setback.

"We can race openly with the team we have," said the 24-year-old in an interview with Wielerflits. "We have nothing to prove and especially nothing to lose. I'm looking forward to it."

While Van der Poel’s absence means the Dutch lack a clear leader, Van den Broek pointed to teammates Thymen Arensman and Bauke Mollema as riders who can deliver. "We know Thymen was fantastic in the Tour, and I've seen Mollema do some great things again," he explained, referencing Arensman’s two Tour de France stage wins and Mollema’s solid Tour of Britain campaign.

For Van den Broek, the Dutch approach will be about flexibility and seizing opportunities as they come. "Maybe we can race nicely. We all know what we're here for, but the specifics will be discussed there," he said of the team’s tactical plans. As for his own condition, Van den Broek sounded encouraged by recent efforts. "The feeling was really good, I could keep going. After my attack, I rode another lap in the peloton. Then the cramps kicked in. Then I had four more laps to go to get some UCI points, haha. That was tough, but the feeling is good for the World Championships."