Niels Albert on expectations for van der Poel and van Aert's cyclocross season: "Mathieu might race a little less, Wout definitely will"

The cyclocross season is off to a start and those who race all winter long are already getting the taste of racing. Some others such as Mathieu van der poel and Wout van Aert will only do the same deeper into the winter and cyclocross legend Niels Albert has shared his thoughts this Saturday.

"Mathieu might race a little less, Wout definitely will. I can see him doing just fine, after his heavy fall in the Vuelta and rehabilitation. It's amazing how he always finds the mental strength to motivate himself and fight back after such a 'stupid' setback - they keep following him. 85% would have thrown in the towel a long time ago in his case," Albert told Het Laatste Nieuws. He believes there are several reasons as to why the classics specialists should focus on cyclocross during the winter, even regardless of the ambitions in the off-road discipline.

"They both like racing. It also fits perfectly into their 'system'. One hour of intensive, pure interval. Short, twisting, turning, wringing, getting going, sprinting: there is no better training for the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix," he argues, and van der Poel has proven that perfectly over the past two seasons. "A Flemish classic is actually one long cyclocross. And… the money. Let's not be silly about that, okay? The alternative is training. If they can still win and earn something with it…”

Last season we saw utter domination from the Dutchman in pretty much every race he participated in, except for Benidorm. His level has truly been astounding even against top rivals. “At this stage of their career, it is gradually also about honour and prestige, about achieving something unique, something that will last a lifetime. I find it hard to believe that Erik De Vlaeminck's World Championship victory record does not interest Mathieu at all (van der Poel has six, De Vlaeminck has seven, ed.).

"Eight or nine is not necessary, equaling is enough. I think I am not doing Erik an injustice when I say that Mathieu is a much better cyclocrosser than he has ever been," Albert even goes as far as saying. "A much better and more complete rider, tout court”

The season truly began last week in Beringen and it was already a race full of excitement and drama, mainly with the altercation between Eli Iserbyt and Ryan Kamp. After both fell, last year's World Cup and Superprestige winner stepped on the bike and broke the derailleur of his former teammate in what was a rather shocking moment.

“We had to base ourselves solely on TV images and statements from Eli and Jurgen (team manager Mettepenningen, ed.). The fact is that, even if something like that happens in the heat of the battle, you have to try to control yourself a bit," the former pro said. "On the other hand: I don’t know Eli as someone whose pot quickly boils over. And who ‘just’ lashes out, out of nowhere. If Ryan really threw all sorts of unsightly things at him and challenged him, then his reaction is somewhat understandable. I know myself: I wouldn't be 'easy' in that either".