Eli Iserbyt struggles to find ways Wout Van Aert can threaten MVDP's seventh title: "Every year you think: Mathieu won’t get any better... but then he arrives and he's just phenomenal"

Being a full-time cyclocrosser in the era of Mathieu van der Poel and Wout Van Aert is not easy. Eli Iserbyt would know a thing or two about that. Despite his undisputable quality and talent, he can only aim as high as for bronze medal in Liévin today because in most scenarios, the two men will be minutes ahead of anyone else. Again.

Iserbyt hopes to have his best legs today in the most important cross of the season. "A World Championship is something special and big every year. It is the cross with the most spectators and there is always a great atmosphere. It is a very special competition for us. It is extra difficult to climb onto the podium this year. The last time that Wout and Mathieu participated was in Hoogerheide and then I came third. That was actually a very nice moment. I still cherish that. I hope to be in third place again on Sunday," he declares modestly for WielerFlits.

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Can Van Aert even do anything about the seemingly invincible Dutchman? "Wout himself has already said that he – when he has the space – has to ride forward as quickly as possible. Then he will have to let his own legs do the talking. Then it is up to the rest to ride their own race and win as many medals as possible. Mathieu is of course 90% favorite, but something can still go wrong. It is an atypical course and that plays into Wout’s hands," Iserbyt believes.

But how should the Belgian leader tackle the six-time world champion and big favorite for the title? "Well, I’ve been asking myself that for six years," laughs Iserbyt. "Wout did beat him for a few years, but… Every year you think: Mathieu won’t get any better. But then he starts the cyclo-cross season with a performance that makes you think: I’ll have to revise my opinion. It’s phenomenal. Wout is also phenomenal, but the level is super high. It’s super difficult to find points on which Mathieu can be beaten."

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