"I do not want to expect too much" - Team boss plays down expectations for Mathieu van der Poel's first cyclocross races

The "real" cyclocross season starts next Monday when the long-awaited duel of two cyclocross champions; Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert will go down a day before Christmas, in Zilvermeercross Mol. However Van der Poel's Alpecin-Deceuninck manager Christian Roodhoft is trying to calm the excitement as we're yet to see how the Dutchman comes off winter preparation.

"I do expect Mathieu to be good," Roodhoft states to VTM Nieuws. Van der Poel will return to racing a day earlier in Zonhoven on Sunday. "A lot will depend on how good the others are. I have seen many beautiful races this season, but it remains difficult to make a correct assessment of the level. Are the youngsters who are sticking their noses out of the window that good or are the established names a bit less? We will only know when Mathieu joins the battle."

Roodhoft does not want to make any concrete statements about whether the world champion will already compete for the victory. "I do not want to expect too much. If you say that he will have a hard time and that is not the case, that would be lame. And if you say that you expect him to win easily, you only create pressure. One thing is certain: Van der Poel is ready. We have drawn up a clear plan of ten races towards the World Championship."

Roodhoft is in any case very curious about the anticipated clash of Van der Poel and Van Aert in Mol. "It would of course be great if both Mathieu and Wout are competitive and we get moments like two years ago in Diegem, or the World Championship in Hoogerheide. Those were highlights for the sport and for the tradition. But honestly, I fear that such moments will not easily come back."