"It's always at the back of my mind" – Fresh off his stunning victory in Benidorm, Mathieu van der Poel is now setting his sights on new challenges, possibly eyeing a debut in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
After dominating every cyclo-cross event he’s participated in this season for the second consecutive year, it’s no wonder that Mathieu van der Poel is looking to expand his horizons. Following an intense battle for what could be his record-breaking eighth Cyclo-cross World Championships title, scheduled for early February, the Alpecin-Premier Tech rider seems eager to explore new opportunities on the road cycling calendar.
In a recent conversation with Wielerflits, after his remarkable performance in the cyclo-cross World Cup round in Benidorm—where he outclassed his competition with astonishing ease—Van der Poel hinted at the possibility of making his first appearance at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, which takes place on February 28.
It’s worth noting that Wout van Aert has already announced he will kick off his season during the Opening Weekend. Other notable names expected to compete include Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5), Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarché), and former champion Jasper Stuyven (Soudal-QuickStep).
Reflecting on his latest success in Benidorm, Van der Poel acknowledged the crucial role played by his teammate Tibor Del Grosso in creating the right conditions during the initial lap. It was just after the first lap finish when the Dutchman seized an opportunity and broke away from the pack, following a minor incident where Toon Aerts (Lotto-Intermarché) fell while positioned right behind him, causing a brief pause for the cyclists trailing them.
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Alasdair Fotheringham has been a dedicated cycling journalist since 1991, covering every Tour de France since 1992, with only one exception. His extensive experience includes reporting on various cycling events, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now-unfortunately discontinued Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. Alongside his work for Cyclingnews, Fotheringham has contributed articles to renowned publications such as The Independent, The Guardian, ProCycling, The Express, and Reuters.
