GLASGOW – He says with clear eyes that he knew exactly where he would attackNot because he had tried it before, but because he noticed it as the laps went by. Thus Mathieu Van der Poel traces his victory, which defies any definition, back to an apparently logical tactic.He knew how to wait, unlike the crazy horse who at the 2021 Tirreno risked ruining everything in Castelfidardo, due to the hunger crisis resulting from a reckless attack. He let others take aim Bettiol. Van Aert, Pedersen, and Pogacar: the cream of world cycling. Evenepoel, on the other hand, had already dropped away, like everyone else, on this day of battle, climb after climb, bend after bend. Those who had assessed the Glasgow World Cup as a race for fast pacers, looking at the order of arrival will give you some good food for thought.
The point studied
Mathieu he did his part and studied in the meantime. At the start he had spoken clearlyHe knew, everyone knew, that unless he achieved a sensational feat, the blue was destined to fade kilometer after kilometer. And when they finally found him in their sights, he didn't think twice and started a counterattack.
«I knew that the point where I would attack – he says – would be the hardest point of the world championship, because there was immediately a descent and then a new climb. I felt strong and noticed that others were suffering instead. When I looked back after my shot and I noticed that no one had followed me, I grew wings. Until the fall, at least. At that point I really thought that the beautiful game was over…».
Fallen by accident
That sharp right-hand bend had already betrayed other riders. You get there very quickly and you expect to do it by braking as little as possibleAn impossible expectation even for a cycling wizard like the Dutchman, who ended up heavily on the asphalt. The Boa on his Shimano shoes tore off, luckily he had laces to keep his shoes closed. He fell, cursed, got up, and started again. And there was still no sign of the others. When we saw them pass at the foot of the penultimate climb on Montrose Street, they had dull faces and wide-eyed gazes.
«I didn't run any particular risks – he reasons – but it was super slippery. I still don't know exactly how I fell, I was really furious with myself.All I had to do was stay on my bike. If that crash had cost me the world title, I wouldn't have slept for a few nights».
Van Aert Controversy
The handshake with Van Aert was colder than the one the Belgian himself reserved for the young Evenepoel last year in Wollongong. The great Belgian did everything perfectly, but on that very tough climb he had to give up.
«I'm not jumping for joy – he says – but I have to say that Mathieu was the strongest. I was on his wheel and I couldn't hold him. Enough. How did I get second place? I noticed that Pedersen wasn't very confident on the corners. Initially, I wanted to take the lead on the final climb, and I did, because after that there were only curves to the finish. But I don't think I outdistanced him on the climb, but rather on the curves.
«But one aspect I can't stay calm about is the lack of communication in the most important race of the yearWhen the environmentalists stopped the group, we didn't know anything. We were there on a road in the middle of the countryside, just like I never knew that Mathieu van der Poel had fallen».
Pogacar's illness
Pogacar is exhausted, During the interviews he almost fainted and they had to carry him awayWe were almost afraid to predict it, even though we knew that the blond boy was capable of anything. And in fact his accelerations were feltTrentin fell during one of his sprints, leaving the group stretched to the limit.
"Was one of my hardest days on the bike – explains the Glasgow bronze medalist during the press conference – and after the finish, during the interviews in the mixed zone I also felt a bit unwell. I had to lie down and go to the bathroom urgently, luckily things are better now. Van der Poel was incredibly strong, we just couldn't respond. He had such a huge lead that the crash couldn't have had any impact. At his shot, we all had to catch our breath.. He is definitely the right winner today."
Wollongong Avenged
Mathieu thanks, but those who followed her carefully understood that never ever would the pursuers have been able to catch him again. Unless, of course, he had stayed against that barrier longer.
«Becoming world champion – he says – was one of the big goals I had left.Winning this rainbow jersey is fantastic. I can't wait to go around wearing it for a whole yearI think my career is almost complete now. What was I thinking in those last few kilometers? I think it was last year's revenge (When he was involved in a fight, ed.) and for this I feel incredible satisfaction."
