Mathieu van der Poel must fix flat tire just before world championships

While Mathieu van der Poel rode effortlessly to his eighth cyclocross world title, he did face some setbacks on his way to the World Championship course. He cycled from the Dutch team's hotel in Terneuzen to Hulst. A flat tire slowed him down on the way to the world title battle.

"Fortunately, I had 'plugs' with me, so I was able to fix the flat tire myself," Van der Poel said at the press conference after securing his eighth cyclocross world title.

"I didn’t get nervous. Yesterday, some riders from the Dutch team also had flats on their way to Hulst. That’s why national coach Gerben de Knegt arranged for a car to follow behind me. But I didn’t need any assistance from the car."