The final a part of the season will see a shift in focus for Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), who completed second total within the Renewi Tour on Sunday after being unable to beat Arnaud De Lie within the remaining dash.
Now, the Dutch rider will hold up his highway bike and change to fats tyres as he goals to win the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships at Crans-Montana on September 14.
“I am constructive about my type. This was precisely what I wanted. The trouble I needed to put in within the remaining is similar to that of a mountain bike race,” Van der Poel stated to VTM Nieuws on Sunday.
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Regardless of lacking out on the general win in Leuven, Van der Poel gave De Lie a robust problem, taking a time bonus to maneuver forward of his younger rival, however didn’t have the legs to beat him within the remaining dash.
“I went all out for that first dash, however I used to be at my restrict,” Van der Poel stated. “On Friday in Geraardsbergen [where he won the stage over De Lie], I additionally observed that I used to be at my restrict fairly rapidly.”
After a spherical of golf on Sunday night, Van der Poel’s subsequent sporting occasion comes per week from at the moment when he’ll compete within the UCI Mountain Bike World Sequence in Les Will get.
“I sat on the mountain bike a couple of instances beforehand to get used to that place. That is the most important adjustment for me,” Van der Poel stated of the change.
“The method will come naturally as soon as I can journey the course daily beginning Wednesday. I did the identical factor in Might within the run-up to Nove Mesto, however this time I hope to complete.” Van der Poel raced the World Sequence in Nove Mesto within the Czech Republic however crashed and fractured his wrist.
As a result of he lacks UCI factors, Van der Poel will begin subsequent weekend’s race at a drawback.
“I will solely begin from the fourth row, and in mountain biking, the beginning is much more necessary than in cyclocross. The possibility of me turning into world champion continues to be slim after this week, however I do suppose I made a distinction this week fitness-wise. Now for a couple of days of relaxation, after which Les Will get would be the actual check.”
