Interview
The Dutch selection for the World Championships on the road for elite men in Glasgow will leave for the Scottish metropolis on Thursday. National coach Koos Moerenhout plays Mathieu van der Poel and Dylan van Baarle as leaders and keeps sprinter Olav Kooij on hand when the fast men qualify for the global medals on the city circuit. Full of optimism, the Orange team leaves for Scotland.
The Dutch eight will arrive in Glasgow on Thursday, where the course through the city is free on Friday morning for a reconnaissance. Two days later at the start of this Super World Cup, the World Cup for the elite men is already on the program.
How did you look at your leaders Mathieu van der Poel and Dylan van Baarle in the Tour?
Moerenhout: “Of course I followed them with great interest because they are the spearheads of Orange at the World Cup. The most important thing is that both came out of the Tour well. I understand from those guys that they got through the round well. Dylan has continuously ridden at a good level. Mathieu suffered from a virus or a cold halfway through the Tour, so he missed his freshness a bit. However, he recovered well from that and was able to finish the round in good shape.”
Both have never been close to a stage win. Is that a disadvantage?
“That’s right. That was almost impossible with the assignment that Dylan had at Jumbo-Visma. We expected it from Mathieu. However, he has done decisive work for his teammate Jasper Philipsen, that was his focus. If you are not completely underarm fresh yourself, it will be a bit more difficult to go for a stage victory.”
Mathieu van der Poel during the 2019 World Road Championships in Yorkshire – photo: Raymond Kerckhoffs
Isn’t that incentive essential in the build-up to a competition like this?
“No, I don’t expect that. Both are experienced riders who know what it takes to get a short result. I think both have rolled through the Tour well. I don’t think they arrived in Paris wrung out.”
Pascal Eenkhoorn has had a strong Tour. Do you agree with that?
“That’s right yes. I think he has also traveled a good route towards the World Cup with the Tour. He is a rider who likes to race. He showed that a few times in the Tour. Last year he was also at the World Cup in Wollongong long in front by going on the attack earlier. He also did that in the Tour of Flanders. That is also his role for this World Cup on a course that suits him well.”
Olav Kooij, Mick van Dijke and Oscar Riesebeek came into action this week in Poland. Where Kooij booked a nice stage victory on Tuesday. How do you view it?
“I believe that the combination of the Tour of Poland and the World Cup is good. Especially if you have not ridden a Tour de France. Mick and Oscar have been up to speed and could use such a stage race to take that step. Poland was also a match for Olav to dot the i’s and cross the t’s. He did that with that beautiful stage victory. And in doing so, he also fueled the much-needed self-confidence. I think Poland was a good preparation for the World Cup for all three.”
Van Baarle proudly poses with silver at the 2021 World Cup – photo: Cor Vos
Is Belgium the country to beat at this World Cup with Wout van Aert, Remco Evenepoel and Jasper Philipsen?
“I agree with that. They have three strong spearheads, but also a number of other riders who can also be promising in a certain race situation. You can definitely call them the team to beat. That doesn’t mean we don’t have a chance.”
Is it an advantage or a disadvantage that Van der Poel with Philipsen and Van Baarle with Van Aert now meet their teammates with their brand team in the colors of another country?
“You can see it as a disadvantage, but it can also be an advantage. I’m not too worried about team interests coming into play. I am convinced that both will race full for their country. Dylan has been 100 percent motivated for this World Cup from the start of the season. And Mathieu is also working alone to win the world title with the Netherlands. I don’t think brand interests get in the way. Of course you can come up with and draw up scenarios in advance. However, I leave that for what it is.”
Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel in Wollongong – photo: Cor Vos
Who have made a strong impression on you in recent weeks?
“While Belgium is the favourite, I also expect a lot from Denmark. They have a strong block and with Mads Pedersen and Kasper Asgreen two very strong trumps who have demonstrated their very best level in Tour. In Glasgow they also get a course that is made for them. France has also shown in recent years that it has a very strong team. How many times Julian Alaphilippe was in the right breakaway in the Tour is an achievement in itself. Participating in the Tour is not easy and he succeeded time and time again. He then seemed to be a bit short, or to be fresh enough to fight for the day victory. You can assume that he will be fine at the World Cup. With Christophe Laporte and Benoît Cosnefroy, they have a good delegation, but also a close-knit collective.”
A lot of rain is predicted for Sunday in Glasgow. Should we think of a scenario like the World Cup in Yorkshire in 2019 where bad weather turned it into a war of attrition?
“I see the amount of rain for Sunday decreasing day by day on the weather forecast, while many showers are now expected, especially on Saturday. Rain can become an extra factor in the game. It’s a city circuit, lots of twists and turns, pedestrian crossings, etc. This can be an advantage for technical riders. Positioning will therefore become even more important. That’s it in dry weather, by the way, because of the many bends in the city. In Yorkshire, the World Cup was four years ago at the end of September and it was a lot colder. Now about 16 to 17 degrees Celsius is predicted, so the cold in combination with the rain will play much less of a role.”
These are the Dutch in UCI World Championships – Road Race
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2023-08-03 11:51:26
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