"The past few weekends show that I've simply grown as a rider" - Unexpected Superprestige leader Niels Vandeputte proud of his start to the season

With three rounds of the Superprestige series, we have a rather unexpected provisional leader within the 24-year-old Niels Vandeputte. The Belgian has been in the broader pool of favourites for some time but it's only at the start of the 2024/25 winter that he's beginning to display his full potential.

Vandeputte kicked off the season with victory in France, but even though he's yet to finish outside the top-4, the victory counter remains at "1" as well. "I think I've been very consistent in those races so far and haven't made many mistakes. So that leading position is a nice reward, I think," he tells In de Leiderstrui after his third place in Niel.

The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider seems to have had the smoothest possible run up to the cyclocross season and profits from it: "I just had a really good summer. No injuries or illnesses, nothing to complain about... I was able to do what I had to do and that's what allowed me to start the season in this form and keep it up. As long as it lasts, I'm very happy."

But one must ask if there is any secret behind the improvement? "That's hard to say. Maybe I've gotten stronger, but I'm always still motivated at the end of the season. There are still races that are close to me and that suit me, while others might already dare to wind down or are less motivated. However, the past few weekends show that I've simply grown as a rider."

Vandeputte's partner, Dutch cyclist Yara Kastelijn, is one of the major pieces that allowed the Belgian to step up this winter, he asserts: "She plays a very important role. She is my confidant and the person I can share everything with. When things are going well, but also when things are not going so well. I am very grateful to her for that and I try to do the same for her in the summer, so I think we complement each other well in that way and bring out the best in each other."