"I thought a few times about turning left, but it is a World Championship after all" - 36th David Haverdings finished in Tábor despite back problems
Cyclocross
Not every member of the Dutch national team had a perfect day on the bike in Tábor. Such was the case for David Haverdings. One of the best U23 riders of this cyclocross season was eventually slowed down by back problems at the World Championships and finished far from the places of glory.
"I had the hope that things would go well, but you quickly feel whether things are going well or not. When you are overtaken and you really want to keep up, but it just doesn't work out... it breaks you down," he tells In de Leiderstrui.
"It was a long, tough race, especially mentally. I just couldn't force myself to cycle fast and my back just wasn't going to work either, so you end up here," he said about his 36th place.
Regardless, Haverdings still decided to honor the race and therefore continue to the end. "I thought a few times about turning left, but it is a World Championship after all. I have gained another experience."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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