01/02/2024

"Thanks to the time difference, I'll be able to see some of it" - Felipe Nystrom forced to miss Cyclocross World Championships after season ending clash with Mathieu van der Poel

Sadly for Costa Rica's Felipe Nystrom, an appearance at the Cyclocross World Championships has not materialised this year after a clash with Mathieu van der Poel in Gavere saw him return home and end his season early.

Way behind the leaders, Nystrom stopped at the side of the course to take a selfie with a fan, unaware that the world champion was quickly coming from behind. As Nystrom looked to remount, oblivious to van der Poel's presence, the pair collided with the Dutchman looking incredibly frustrated. Although there was no ill will from van der Poel post-race, Nystrom sponsors soon pulled the plug on his cyclocross season.

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"I wanted to stay and compete in the World Championship, but I didn't have enough money anymore. After the cross in Gavere, my backers decided to turn off the tap. Whether that has to do with the collision with Van der Poel? I honestly don't know," he tells Sporza glumly.

And so, instead of competing at the very highest level of his sport, Nystrom is instead back in the US and in work. “I work as a translator and interpreter in the US, 7 days a week, up to 15 hours a day,” says the Costa Rican. "Today I started work at 5 a.m. My working day is over at 8:30 p.m. and I will try to train for another hour and a half."

VIDEO: Fan footage shows Mathieu van der Poel and Felipe Nystrom incident in a new angle

"Thanks to the time difference, I'll be able to see some of it," he continues, before making his prediction for the race. "Without a fall, mechanical failure or a rider crashing into him, van der Poel will become world champion. But if something does happen to Van der Poel, which I really hope not, then I will grant it to Michael Vanthourenhout."

"He always says hello to me when I meet him at the cross. A very friendly guy and he seems to be in shape just in time after a difficult season," Nystrom concludes. "After the incident with van der Poel, Eli Iserbyt's wife was the first to reassure me at the finish. She said that Mathieu would have forgotten that near collision a day later. I am still very grateful to Eli and his wife for that."