Thursday January 4, 2024 at 2:21 PM
Video The course of the X2O Trophy Koksijde is particularly difficult, Wout van Aert said before the start of the ‘Duinencross’. Mathieu van der Poel agrees. “That’s always a bit of a shame for a sand cross,” he continued MVDP in conversation with, among others CyclingFlits.
“It is not too heavy, but it is more fun if the sand is crucial, and not the intermediate sections that are now more muddy,” said Van der Poel, who was hit hard by Van Aert in Koksijde last year. However, this cyclo-cross season the Dutchman rules. What is the biggest difference from then? “Especially the back that no longer plays tricks on me. And yet perhaps Wout is a bit worse than last year because he opts for a different approach, which is also understandable. It will be a combination of those two things.”
Van der Poel does not have a plan for the cross in Koksijde. “You don’t need a plan here. It’s so difficult here. Normally you could recover a little between the sand sections, but the rain also stopped that, which makes it a very difficult race.”
Supporters’ measure in Koksijde
After the spitting incident in the Hulst World Cup, where Mathieu van der Poel was booed and spat at the booers, the organization of the Duinencross took a measure to prevent unsportsmanlike fan behavior. After exploring the course in Koksijde, riders can point out rioters along the course to the police. Has Van der Poel spotted annoying spectators?
“No, but that is always very limited. And shouting – which I also do not condone – is of course also different from throwing things. It’s not that bad, but it’s good that attention is being paid to it. It’s not just me, there are other riders who have complained about it. It’s good that there is some control.”
2024-01-04 13:21:00
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