Eli Iserbyt 🥇 takes his first win of the season after a battle royale with Lars van der Haar 🥈 Joris Nieuwenhuis takes bronze 🥉 @IserbytEli | @UCI_CX | #CXWorldCup
Lars van der Haar: "I really wanted to win today. I have tried everything"
CyclocrossSunday, 19 November 2023 at 19:00
Lars van der Haar won the World Cup in Maasmechelen and today he looked set for a second big win this season. However he lacked the power in the final laps in Troyes and had to settle behind Eli Iserbyt.
“I had good legs, but I was defeated today. I really wanted to win today. I have tried everything," the Dutchman said in a post-race interview. "I had some trouble getting to the front on my own so early, I had trouble finding the right pace. Since I didn't have anyone with me, I couldn't see what might have been better lines. You just did what you thought was best.”
Van der Haar attacked solo off the front in the first lap and got a strong gap. Having a big engine, it seemed as if to catch him would be impossible, even when Eli Iserbyt set off chasing him. That wasn't the case however, as a few laps later the bridge was made. And then a mistake opened the winning gap: “Then I made one small mistake. I thought: I'll quickly switch bikes and then focus on Eli."
"I saw that he took one or two lines much better than me. As a result, he immediately put a lot of pressure on me. I had to adjust my tactics and also take those lines. That puts me at a bit of a disadvantage. I couldn't accelerate anymore and he won," van der Haar, who was disappointed with the loss - Baloise - Trek Lions' first at the World Cup this season. "He beat me clear and fair. That hurts."
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- He would still be faster on the course riding his cyclocross bike than in his Lambo!Pogboom28-12-2024
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- The nice thing about World Tour cycling is it never goes the way you think it ill, haha. Tadej breaking away so far out in the Worlds? Remco doubling up in Paris?
ScottG27-12-2024 - Pretty classy comments by Jonas. Makes me like him even more.ScottG27-12-2024
- MVDP is simply a cross "machine" - amazing to watch.ScottG27-12-2024
- yes, Jonas said that he had lost a little muscle mass. In the other hand, also Tadej changed his physique: thin, more lighter than ever, legs and glutes well defined (finally, no more junior legs). Both were more lighter than ever but Pogi could put more muscle in legs and glutes.
maria2024202427-12-2024 - He can keep contending for Vuelta podium spots. A lot would need to go wrong for others and everything right for him to get on the Giro podium. He'll only be on the TdF podium if he's becomes a podium presenter.Veganpotter27-12-2024
- I like that, mind if I use it from now on? Better than using his name which always gets me worried about Google hits and giving him the excuse he was bound to behave the way he did from the derived verb.Mistermaumau27-12-2024
- This website needs clicks so just vacuums up what is available and loves anything that creates discussion.Mistermaumau27-12-2024
- Their battles are only interesting or special when both are in good shape and unfortunately it’s been a few years since that was last the case, road cycling tends to put an end to most side careers, MVDP still being a rare exception.Mistermaumau27-12-2024