Mathieu van der Poel has been focusing on road cycling as much as he has in cyclocross over the past few years, and changes to his position on the bike may be behind his recent technical mishaps, former pro Bart Wellens says.
"Van der Poel's position has changed after he became a real road racer about three to four years ago. You sit deeper and there is more pressure on your front wheel. As a result, Mathieu started making many more mistakes," Wellens told the CROSS podcast.
These have become clear in races such as Val di Sole where the Dutchman could only ride to 8th place or Boom early in the year where he finished 13th. Over the past weekend in Zonhoven the former World Champion struggled in the deep sand sections, costing him another heavy defeat against Wout van Aert less than one month away from the World Championships.
"You also saw that at Van Aert in recent years," he continued. "Although I do think he steers better now than before. But still no better than Mathieu. With him you see that by adopting that road position he can steer less in the field. Especially with the speed at which they take a turn or drive through sand.”
Aside from that, back issues have returned and the Dutchman is currently in a fragile position. He's travelling to Spain to prepare for his final races of the season now, but is at the time being behind his big rival when it comes to the chances of taking on the rainbow jersey.
“Now he is more in that aerodynamic road position and then you will also make a little more mistakes. Although men like Van der Poel can compensate for those mistakes with their strength and still make something of it," Wellens continues.
Van der Poel has won 4 out of 12 races so far this winter, and will be aiming to win in the new Spanish circuit at the Benidorm World Cuo. “The cameras are always aimed at both and everyone sees: 'Oh, he's fallen again.' But no, it doesn't hurt in itself, because they compensate for their mistakes, like I already said."
"But I am convinced that the road position makes you lean more forward and is therefore more aerodynamic. As a result, you can steer less well during the cross," he concluded.
#CXWorldCup in Zonhoven ended for us with two🥈 for Puck Pieterse and @mathieuvdpoel Both Ceylin and @Quintenhermans closed the top 5, @NielsVDPutte was 7th, @Davidvanderpoel and @ToonVandebosch: 15th and 17th, whilst @jentemichels123 was competing in U23 category and took 4th.
