"I'm not interested in the course, I'm just really looking forward to it" - Lars van der Haar ahead of European Championships in Pontchateau

If there is one man that the Belgians will keep an eye on this Sunday at the European Cyclo-Cross Championships, it is Lars van der Haar. The Dutchman from Baloise Trek Lions will compete against his teammate Thibau Nys in Pontchateau, France, but will enter into that battle without too much fear. He spoke to In de Leidestrui about the EC after the Koppenbergcross.

Van der Haar finished seven seconds behind teammate Nys, who crossed the line with his hands in the air. "You couldn't stand up on the climb, so I had to stay seated," he laughed, referring to his trademark, which earned him victory on the Koppenberg last year.

"I can live with it, but I would also have loved to win myself," said Van der Haar, who in any case felt very positive signals towards the European Championship on the Koppenberg. "I really learned that my legs were very good, because I was behind all the time with excess. I gave Michael Vanthourenhout and Eli Iserbyt a few times to see if they could go faster, but that didn't work and Thibau was just very strong. What he shows here is very impressive," he compliments his younger Belgian teammate.

The fact that it is raining heavily in Pontchateau in the run-up to the European Championship and that Van der Haar is not particularly known as a mud lover is absolutely not an issue in the mind of the favorite for the European title. "I'm not interested in the course, I'm just really looking forward to it." Even when we ask him about a possible mix of team and country tactics, he shakes his head. "I'm not afraid of it at all. We are all smart enough to know how the game works."