Still lost between the end of the road season, the affirmation of gravel, the last explosions of the MTB and the first of the cycle market, Few people have noticed not only that the international cyclocross season has started, but also that he did it through his main circuit, the World Cup in the name of Eli iserbytThe first two stages took place in America, and since they no longer had the same sense of discovery that they had last year, with the test of the world championship course in Fayetteville, many avoided such an expensive trip.
However, not the main Belgian and Dutch representatives, who then met in Tabor, Czech Republic, for the first European test where the other nations finally showed up and, above all, the situation also moved for the youth categories. If we look at the main race, the men's elite one, little has changed because in three races, the winner has always been the same.
Tabor was his "bête noire"
The trophy holder put up a good fight with the Dutchman Van Der Haar, resolved during the sixth lap when he pulled away: «In the first part I didn't do well – he declared after the finish – I was still feeling the effects of jet lag, then I took control of the operations, but at least one lap was needed to make the difference. The Tabor route is a difficult one for my characteristics, I considered it my bête noire, luckily I finally dispelled it.
«Now I plan to save my energy, I have a good number of points in the bag and I will face the next three stages more calmly. to refine my preparation in view of my big goal together with conquering the challenges: the European title in Namur up for grabs on November 6th".
His statements have left more than a few people a little perplexed, but Those who know the Belgian elf well know that his activity is commensurate with the presence of the "mammasantissima", the champions who come from the road. The Belgian has never made a secret of dividing the world of cyclocross into two different hemispheres: the one with and the one without the various Van Aert, Van Der Poel, PidcockHe said it at the end of last season, and he's increasingly convinced of this concept.
Samples out of context
iserbyt He further clarified his thoughts in an interview given to the Dutch newspaper Wielerflits: «I have extended the contract with the pauwels until 2026 and I did it thinking not only of myself, but also to send a signal to the new generations: You can very well have a good and profitable career as a cyclocross rider, it is not necessary to be like them who are very strong but are out of contextThey are exceptional talents, different from those I admired as a child because they also dominate on the road. They are too strong, that's why I decided that what I'm doing now is enough for me.
«I consider myself a pure cyclocross rider, who needs his summer months to rest and prepare for the six months of the winter season. Only doing 10 cross-country races, even if they were the most important ones, wouldn't make sense to me. Maybe I could do more in mountain biking, but so far my back hasn't allowed it. We'll see in 2023 if the situation has improved.
Season focused on the Europeans
«I'm doing it all season – Iserbyt continued in this sort of confession – As soon as they arrive they are competitive not only because they are fresher both physically and mentally, but also because they have a broad base to emerge and maintain maximum performance for an hour, for them who are used to the road, it's not difficult. When they arrive, I think about the challenge rankings and have to manage the situation. I know this creates a distorted picture of the situation, but I didn't create it. My job is to aim for the European title and the challenge races. If I beat them once, it will be a bonus, but for me it's not an obsession."
Words destined to make us think, considering that Van Der Poel has already announced that he will start competing on the grass at the end of November, while Van Aert should repeat last year's experience by entering the arena in December, this time however continuing straight to the World Cup where the "Three Tenors" performance should return.
Is the new vincitutto coming?
The speech partially concerns women too, partially because if on the one hand the Your still waiting to engage in the winter discipline, on the other hand the Brand, who has also done quite well this year on the road not only as a support rider Balsamo e Longo Borghini to the Trek Segafredo, immediately started competing, but the world champion found an extraordinary opponent in the twenty-year-old Fem Van Empel, which we had left partially disappointed at the World Championships in Fayetteville (third in the Under 23 race) and we find dominating with three successes in the Cup, in an orange panorama like never before, where the only real opponent seems to be the Hungarian Blanka You, who however finished only fifth in Tabor, while the second non-Dutch was Sara Single house, eleventh at 49” in a truly great international performance.
In Tabor, in addition to the presence of the boys from Selle Italia Guerciotti Elite, with Bertolini 23rd, there was also the Italian national team, with Punctual which brought some juniors and under-23s to gain experience. Once again, the best result came from Federica Venturelli, which is slowly leaving behind the consequences of the Wollongong fall and who finished seventh among the juniors at 1'20” from Molengraaf, of course Dutch… Davide is also good Toneatti, ninth at 1'21” from the son of art NYS in the U23 race.
