Adrie van der Poel abandons race organizing role following accusations of benefiting Mathieu - "I never walk around thinking it's for X or Y"

Mathieu van der Poel's father Adrie is a legend in cycling, and cyclocross specifically. The Dutch former rider still has a very active role in the community, and is part of the organization for the Hoogerheide track which this year hosts the World Championships. However, due to recent events, he may abandon the role altogether.

“I have decided today that I will no longer organize the World Cup in Hoogerheide. And nowhere else," he revealed in an interview with Sporza. "I build a course with the resources I have and I don't look at riders. I look at the finish, tents, material stations and parking lots, without thinking that a corner is in favor of Mathieu or anyone else. I build the way I think it should, that it's exciting and fun. I never walk around thinking it's for X or Y."

In what is one of the biggest non-subjects in recent times, over social media comments have been directed towards Adrie van der Poel, accusing him of designing the course in Hoogerheide to favour his son Mathieu. Van der Poel's main rival Wout van Aert, as did other figures in the cyclocross world, have denied that there was a possibility of that being the case.

Most noticeably, it has been said that the implementation of very high planks towards the end of the lap was a specific change to favour the Dutchman. “I'm not in favor of planks anyway and I didn't want them in the course until the chairman came up with an amount from the sponsor," van der Poel senior explains. Then I also had to tack. But that was already decided half a year ago. Planks have no function if you put them where you have to walk through the mud.”

“It is still difficult after that to the finish. If you want to be sure on the planks, you need ten seconds. You won't win with a two second lead. With the pros it will be very close and will be decided by mistakes. However, it seems to me that it will come to a sprint here, because it is harder than they think," he concluded.

The course can be seen here, with the presence of high planks noticeable towards the end of the lap. However, despite being a weak accusation, van der Poel admits that he may end his time as a race organizer due to the flurry of accusations.