"He is exceptionally gifted" - Paul Herygers watches in awe as Mathieu van der Poel completely destroy the field on cyclocross return

Mathieu van der Poel returned to cyclocross action on Sunday afternoon in Zonhoven. It's fair to say the Dutchman didn't need much time to readjust either, attacking on the very first lap and only extending his advantage over the chasers from there.

In their analysis afterwards for Sporza, Ruben van Gucht and Paul Herygers were understandably glowing in their praise of the cyclocross world champion. "Did Mathieu van der Poel ridicule the rest?" Van Gucht asks. "I disagree. I am more lenient towards Van der Poel. It is not his fault that he was born with a great pair of legs that can ride faster than other cyclo-cross riders. He is exceptionally gifted," Herygers answers.

According to Herygers though, it's not a fault on Van der Poel's challengers that they are so distanced, as almost any field in the history of the sport would struggle to match the Dutchman. "That starts with De Vlaeminck - technically he was a fantastic guy - and a bit later came the chapter Liboton, but I fear that there would be no problems for Van der Poel anywhere," he explains. "Maybe on a very technical circuit, but for the rest he also flies over beams and ditches. That is not the point. In terms of riding fast, then we end up with him."

"We are perhaps looking at one of the best, if possible the best cyclocrosser in history. Because he will probably win 7 world titles and then you can substantiate that with statistics. He is on the threshold of achieving that benchmark of Erik De Vlaeminck," Van Gucht adds, with Herygers also in agreement: "I shouldn't complain either. I am someone who was once mistaken about that, because years ago I said that we would never experience that. The funniest message I got during the cross was that they could already give him that jersey. Then they can both prepare for the road season, because it is not an advance to ride against it."

"Normally I think he makes a slip every now and then, but there was no sign of that. I regret not saying it, but I thought he would be with the leading group at the top, but he was already alone on the descent. I misjudged that a bit, but deep down I came close to how it would look. I think he starts stronger than in other years," Herygers adds ominously.