Jens Dekker on cyclocross return: "Even if I reach a huge level, I'm not sure I will continue with this for very long"

Jens Dekker has made a long-awaited return to cyclocross these past few months but it has been a roller-coaster since. His first victories coming back, another big crash and injury, and now a return to racing following a large period of indoor training.

“Even if I reach a huge level, I'm not sure I will continue with this for very long. I just think it's worth trying again and doing everything for it. Afterwards I will evaluate whether it was worth it or not," Dekker told Wielerflits. Earlier this summer Dekker talked to CyclingUpToDate and said that "I was always chasing results and at this point I know that the results will come probably at some point, it doesn’t matter if it’s this week or in five weeks time or even never. The results at this point don’t really matter to me, I’m just enjoying the fact that I’m riding again and riding at this level."

Victories came in Spain, winning the Ciclocross Lago de as Pontes and Concello De Ribadumia, in both occasions directly beating Spanish national champion Felipe Orts who has in the meantime finished on the podium of a Superprestige race. His level was high and he made his return to the World Cup in Maasmechelen, but there he suffered a crash and wrist fracture. Back to the drawing board and the indoor bike. 

Dekker returned to racing this weekend in Boom where he finished 32nd, but hopes to build his best form back up over the coming weeks and begin to earn some serious UCI points in the big races. “The most points can simply be earned there. I find it difficult to estimate the results. Before the season I hoped that I could occasionally get top 10 on a good day and somewhere between 10 and 20 on a bad day. But yes, the landscape has changed a bit this year. You do have a group that fights for victory, but behind it it is completely open.”

Hence Dekker sets those temporary expectations as he believes that is the level he can reach, but remains very open about the medium and long-term future. “I would love it if I could join the second group. So not the group that fights for victory, but what lies just behind it. That's what I want to focus on."

"I don't want to focus on specific competitions such as the National Championships or World Championships," the Dutchman concludes. "Before the World Championships I first have to ride in the top 16 in the World Cup, so let's aim for that first. Then we'll see what else comes my way."