Mathieu van der Poel has experienced more enjoyable cyclocross races in Mol. After a fierce battle with Van Aert, the Dutchman claimed victory, but arrived at the finish shivering and was still not fully warmed up during the post-race interview. "I'm feeling a bit warmer now, but today I really suffered from the cold," he says.
"This is one of my favorite cyclocross races, but in these conditions it’s so tough. My hands and feet were so cold that nothing came naturally. I also fell softly because I couldn’t get my foot out of the pedal. That was due to the sand and my cold feet, I basically fell over."
"No, I didn’t enjoy myself. There have been races where I had more fun. I really suffered from the cold, although I’m warmer now," he continues.
Duel with Van Aert
Van der Poel also reflected on the duel with Van Aert. The world champion heard that his rival crashed right behind him. "It was getting really slippery. I heard it happen, hopefully it’s not too bad," he says about it. "Until that crash, it was neck and neck, so it’s a shame the race was decided by a fall."
