They are two of the great six and the only members of the six dedicated to cyclocross. So, when it came to starting as favorites to win in Benidorm at the world specialist competition in Spain, they had it easy, although things later got complicated. Wout van Aert He bid farewell to the season of sand, mud, stone, stairs and logs in the most spectacular way, winning without scaring, before focusing entirely on the asphalt campaign, the spring classics, the Giro, the Games in the World Cup. Closing 2024 at the Vuelta; Almost nothing is as he expected, intense emotions for himself and those who observe him.
Mathieu van der Poel It was 10 out of 10. No one had approached him since he got on his cyclocross bike in December; I didn’t wait for the last round to win; So far even Van Aert had not frightened him; as if he was the only one running and the rest had to fight to come second and share one step below the podium in the races he participated in; All in the shadow of your grandson Raymond Poulidor. Went to the ground in Benidorm. “I tripped over a fence,” he admitted to the international television signal. So there is no possible mistake in accepting that a fall deprived the Dutch ‘beast’ of achieving all 11 victories in cyclocross ahead of the World Cup event in the Czech Republic in two weeks.
VanAertBefore Benidorm, he seemed like an outsider as he talked about the competition changes in 2024, his Giro debut if he doesn’t go to the Tour, and the excitement of the Vuelta. The enthusiasm generated by his presence in the Italian tour was so great that he had to state that his idea was not to fight for the general classification but rather to win more stages. Of course he had to sign up. Tadej PogacarTo make it clear who will be the favorite in Italy, he only participates in cyclocross in his native Slovenia.
good vibes
Leaving Van der Poel in Benidorm, Van Aert showed that he had already cleared the dust off his legs and was starting to feel those good feelings that cyclists always talk about when they see their muscles moving musically. He said that he stepped on the pedals and could aspire to victory in front of the Mediterranean, far from the theaters of Belgium and the Netherlands, but with the warmth of the audience and all figures without exception of this cycling expertise.
none VanAert none of them Van der Poel They’re off to a good start. In some ways cyclocross is similar to motorized speed tests; It’s important to start from the first one because losing your position is a drama. That’s why everyone’s leaving like there’s no tomorrow.
The pair therefore had to make a comeback in the early rounds against experts who, unlike them, spent the late autumn and early winter competing in every cyclocross race. And therefore VanAert And Van der Poel They always start second in the standings with penalties, which represents a plus in trying to stay ahead from the start.
paved section
However, they achieved this especially thanks to the uphill asphalt section, where they impressively outperformed their rivals. So halfway through the race they were in front of the Benidorm cycling festival. Tom Pidcock (last ninth) who enjoys a few moments of victory and is always immersed in cyclocross with the European champion, Michael VanthourenhoutHe finished the test in second place, breathing the air of the couple.
While everything points to a new duel between the magnificent couple, Van der Poel (eventually fifth) and crashed on the eighth of nine laps to end his fight for victory. VanAert He freely knocked down his Belgian citizen Vanthourenhout Owning an unrivaled terrain on the asphalt slope of the last lap and seeking victory from there. That’s when the decline of fear occurred. Instead of riding his bike as he had done until then, he wanted to walk across the logging area near the finish line. He left the last log and when it was time to get back on the bike, it is not known what he was doing when he tripped over the pedal and saddle and fell to the ground. Luckily Vantourenhout was too far away to overturn his victory. “I shot my wrist that my mother broke on Saturday. Maybe it was because I was running with number 13. “But my legs were fine and my day went well,” he emphasized. VanAert on TV.
Felipe OrtsThe Spanish champion finished eighth, although he was always close to the leaders of the test. There were no surprises in the women’s category and the Dutch and world champions Fem van Empel achieved victory.