"No rider can be at the level" - Felipe Orts complements Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert but looks to surprise in their absence
Cyclocross
Felipe Orts was fifth in Maasmechelen last week and comes into the European Championships in great form. After missing the Koppenbercross, he looks to take advantage of the freshness and surprise in a race that will miss the main figures of the discipline.
Orts has no doubt that against Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert he could not compete, but with their absence space opens up for others: "They rule. No rider can be at the level. Even Pidcock. But if they are not there, everything opens up," Orts said in an interview with Marca. "I arrive with the ideal point. Both tiredness and freshness to fight. There is a lot of water and we won't be able to fight in groups. The rhythm will be broken and it won't be decided in the end. It's good for me,"
The Spanish champion has developed quite a lot over the past few years and has become a regular figure inside the Top10 at World Cup races. He shares that this year he will not be seeking success in particular cups, but instead build towards specific goals - and the Europeans in Pontchâteau are part of that.
"There are two marked blocks: European and four races, longer rest than usual and returning for the Nationals, Benidorm and World Championships as the main objectives," he shares, eyeing for a second peak in his winter during January, as will the likes of van der Poel who's already shared his calendar for the season, starting only in late December.
Orts was also asked about van Aert and his possible goals of racing the Giro d'Italia and aim for the overall classification. "He will never be able to do a full season, but by adjusting races he can be perfectly fine. If it were my case... I would dedicate a year and a half to the Giro," Orts responded. "In their case there is no problem: they don't care if they don't start at 100%."
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Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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Busy day in Pont-Château 🇫🇷 for #EuroCross23
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