"I think they're pretty evenly matched" - Dutch coach Gerben de Knegt confident van der Poel will challenge van Aert for Cyclocross World Title despite concerns over form

Cyclocross
Thursday, 12 January 2023 at 13:00
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With the 2023 Cyclocross World Championships in Hoogerheide now less than a month away, there has been much discussion over the form or lack thereof of Mathieu van der Poel. Dutch coach Gerben de Knegt is unconcerned however.
Speaking in an interview with In de Leiderstrui, de Knegt quashes claims that van der Poel's form is a cause for concern. "I saw what happened in Koksijde just like everyone else," he says referring to a flare-up of an old back injury for van der Poel. "Of course you are disappointed, but I don't want to say that the alarm bells immediately go off or anything like that."
de Knegt feels that if anything is going to stop van der Poel from claiming a fifth Cyclocross World Championship crown, it will be more to do with the brilliance of Wout van Aert than anything lacking from van der Poel. "I think they're pretty evenly matched. In principle, it is often about the form of the day with those two, but it is of course a fact that Wout is perfectly fine and that we can enjoy a nice duel. But in my opinion, Van der Poel is not as far off as everyone thinks."
"I hope that the training camp with the Mathieu team will help again and then it can be different in a few weeks," the Dutch national team coach continues. "But if Mathieu doesn't win, he doesn't win. Then it will be Monday again."
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MidnightRider 14 January 2023 at 12:55+ 762

Assuming Van Der Poel is healthy, this really is his race to lose. The course at Hoogerheide is the nearly ideal layout for him -- fast and technical, lots of slippery single-lines through open field, very little running or heavy mud. He has won 5 times there, while Wout has never one even once. Heck, the regular race held there every year is named for Van Der Poel's dad.

Wout has no chance, right?

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