Twelve wins out of eighteen races, barring the half misstep at the European Championships, Eli Iserbyt's winter season has been a blast. Today he also won at Besancon, leaving Toon Aerts at 10 seconds, the same way as In the morning Lucinda Brand had edged Canadian Rochette by 26 seconds.
Climber's physique
Its size is clearly growing. And even if the imminent return to competition of Van Aert, Van der Poel and Pidcock could reduce its star, it is a fact that At 24, Iserbyt is one of the strongest specialists in the worldAnd since few people know him, we'll try to describe his personality through his own words.
«I don't see myself as one of the best in the world – he says the Flemish, 1,65m tall and weighing 56kg I consider myself an athlete who does his best, and that's been the guiding principle of my growth. I realize that everything around me has gotten bigger, but the goal is to win as much as possible. In Belgium I get recognized because everyone watches cyclocross in the winterI always try to be inconspicuous, and the mask helps with that. Popularity is nice and helps, but There are so many rivalries, that if you are not in favor of one, you are automatically against it.This is the beauty of cycling in Belgium. Imagine the change in climate, when last year, due to Covid, we raced without spectators…
Win a lot
The public will have to get to know him. It's hard to say if he's speaking because he's had contact with the three specialty giants, but certainly the hypothesis that they might loosen their grip on the cross is not far-fetched and this could also open the way for him to the top of the world.
«I think the public also needs this transition period – he says – because Van der Poel and Van Aert will race less and less cross-country. This is our chance., but we must not be naive. They always run to win and It's not a given that they will disappear like StybarFor now, they're still in full cross mode and don't want to lose. Thanks to this, the races will be even more exciting. My short term goal is to win a lot before they get there».
One hundred years of history
His observation about cross-country, its origins, and the fact that it is a native Benelux specialty is well-founded. His observation about the specialty's historical consistency is also pertinent.
«I don't think that greater internationalization will translate into stronger foreign riders – he says – Cross-country skiing is a sport with strong regional roots. It's very specific and technical, and it's in our DNA.If you see kids working out, it's normal to get the urge too. I started when I was 13 or 14. As a child, I played football on Saturdays and watched cross-country skiing on TV on Sundays.Ten minutes after the race, I took my bike and went to play on the hills behind the house.
Our only problem is that we're not an Olympic sport. All the strongest British or French specialists drop out after a while. But even with Olympic status, I think the Belgians will continue to make a difference. In an ever-changing world, cyclocross has remained the same for 100 years.. It's the tradition that makes this sport so great."
Street suggestion
On his growth prospects, the room for improvement and a possible involvement in his team's road activity, the Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal, Iserbyt seems to have clear ideas.
«I'm 24 years old – he says – and This summer I did a higher workload and for the first time endurance workMaybe next summer I'll try to do well in a stage race, even though I've never had a peak form in the road season. The cyclocross season requires a very long peak period, so mentally and physically I need the summer months to recover».
Typical week
His is the life of a… priest of cross. The devotion and dedication with which he speaks about it also makes one think of… a boy aware that he must be at his best to fight against the giants.
«My typical week is always the same – he says – I do an easy ride on Monday and then a long 4-hour ride on Tuesday. Wednesday 2-hour specific training session for the weekend raceWe're trying to work on a similar path. After training, I'm alone on the couch, and my girlfriend knows it. I rest as much as I can. I don't see my friends during the season because they work during the week and party on the weekendsIt's an easy sacrifice to make when the results come."
The next stop of the World Cup will be in Antwerp on December 5th, then finally the cross circus will land in Italy, on the icy paths of Vermiglio, in Val di SoleThe top spot in the rankings is firmly in the hands of Iserbyt and Lucinda Brand. While we wait for the giants to return, the path of the Bavikhove elf continues to look exceptional.
