Wout van Aert says error cost him showdown with rival Mathieu van der Poel in Maasmechelen - 'I made a stupid mistake'
Published 26/01/2025 at 09:55 GMT
Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) had to settle for second place after a crash cost him dearly at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup event in Maasmechelen. His long-term rival Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) came out on top, but Van Aert believes the error denied fans a mouth-watering battle between the two. Joris Nieuwenhuis (Ridley Racing Team) finished in third.
Highlights: Masterful Van der Poel takes dominant win in Maasmechelen from Van Aert
Video credit: TNT Sports
Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) believes a mistake on the second lap cost him the chance to go toe-to-toe with eventual winner and long-term rival Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup event in Maasmechelen.
Van Aert crashed during the descent after a strong showing on the first lap, allowing his old foe to cruise to his fourth World Cup win of the campaign.
The latest chapter in the famous rivalry dominated a significant portion of the build-up to the race.
"I was eager to come forward quickly, because I was never in the race last week in Benidorm because of that bad starting position," Van Aert told cyclingnews.com.
"I was really trying to get to the front as soon as possible.
"When I started the attack in the second lap, I made a stupid mistake.
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Highlights: Welsford sprints to victory in Stage 1 of Tour Down Under
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I think it's a shame, because Mathieu actually rode very far away from me.
"I would have preferred to have fought for a while.
"I had the feeling that I was in it, so after that it was difficult.
"Without that mistake, I would have been closer.
"I wouldn't say I could have won, as I finished a minute behind. I was able to ride a nice race afterwards.
"It was indeed difficult today, for example, that off-camber."
Van der Poel finished 74 seconds ahead of his Belgian rival, as he put the finishing touches to his preparations for the World Championships.
Joris Nieuwenhuis [Ridley Racing Team] took third place to complete the podium.
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Van Aert will not compete in any more cyclo-cross races this season after recovering from a knee injury that he suffered during the 2024 Vuelta a Espana.
The Belgian revealed that minimising his schedule allowed him to get the most out of every race that he competed in.
"It has been a short winter," said Van Aert.
"It’s not the ['cross] season I was hoping for but given the injury that I finished the last road season with it was good to minimise the races.
"The races I did I could fully enjoy and get good results.
"I look back with a good feeling.
"I have always enjoyed it [cyclo-cross] very much.
"Every time I get back on the field and I meet all my competitors, I would prefer to ride much more.
"My goals are now also on the road.
"Now I have to use my mind because those bigger goals on the road arrive very quickly."
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