Tibor del Grosso motivated but realistic after elite breakthrough: "If Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert are back, I will normally move down a spot"

There is hardly any other rider in the cyclocross field who looks as smooth on the bike as Tibor del Grosso. The under-23 World Champion is slightly following the footsteps of his teammate Mathieu van der Poel, but he refuses to make comparisons and doesn't want to put unnecessary pressure on his shoulders either by doing so.

He has confirmed that this weekend he will race the national championships at elite level, not under-23 as he usually races in. "Also because there are not many under-23 cyclocross races, but of course I was also curious this winter to see where I stand among the pros," the Dutchman said in words to De Telegraaf. "I can still ride with the elite for a long time and it is not the case that I can compete for the medals in advance at a World Championship. Although everything can change of course". 

He's already proven to have the level to be competitive even amongst the elites, specially the Dutch ones in the absence of van der Poel. Last year he won the under-23 World Championships and World Cup, whilst this year he's won all four under-23 races that he's started. With the elites, his worst result was a 7th place, and recently in Koksijde he was only second to Laurens Sweeck - he comes very close to his first elite victory.

"I hoped to ride on the podium once, which I succeeded with a second place in Koksijde, but the level is high. I knew that I had made a step this summer, but it is also nice to see that confirmed. But if Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert are back, I will normally move down a spot," he admits. However, at the nationals he won't have such a high level. He will certainly have to face the strong Lars van der Haar and Pim Ronhaar duo, but a title is very much a possibility for the 21-year old.

Regardless of the outcome, he is often compared to van der Poel as both race for the same team, with the same rainbow jersey, and del Grosso seems to be a very popular rider with equally extraordinary bike handling skills.

However Del Grosso does not want to push himself to that level of expectations, and complements the reigning elite world champion. "Mathieu is of such an exceptional level, while I still have a lot to prove. He is the absolute top in the classics on the road and in the field. The speed with which he can take both the straights and the bends in the crosses is unmatchable for anyone".

"I can only hope that I will one day become world champion among the professionals. Everyone likes to compare, but for the time being I am not comparing myself to him. I am very happy with my development and that I am seen as a contender at the National Championship on Sunday. But I am not counting my chickens before they hatch. You have to be able to deal with all your opponents on a day like that," he concluded.