"A real disappointment": Mathieu van der Poel reflects on the European Cycling Championship in Belgium
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Follow us on GoogleOn Sunday, Mathieu van der Poel, along with Mads Pedersen, was a major force at the European Cycling Championship in Belgian Limburg. However, the Dutchman’s aggressive approach did not pay off in Hasselt. His final attempt fell short with twenty kilometers to go, and he was unable to execute his lead-out effectively in the final kilometer.
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On the so-called Limburg loop, which he had highlighted beforehand, Van der Poel made his first move more than a hundred kilometers from the finish. Throughout the race, there were repeated attacks and accelerations, but truly breaking away proved to be a pipe dream, despite the support from strong riders like Pedersen and Laporte.
"I made it a tough race, but Italy eventually caught up," Van der Poel noted after the finish. "That was to be expected with such a strong team. There was a chance, but I have to say I didn't have my best legs today. The gap should have been bigger."
Despite this, the Dutchman was satisfied with how the race tactics were executed. "The strategy was to always have someone in the front, so we wouldn't have to chase from behind. I think we executed that well."
Read more below the photo!
Van der Poel could not play a significant role in final kilometers
In an attempt to help lead-out man Olav Kooij, Van der Poel tried to pilot him, but ultimately his efforts in service of the sprinter did not succeed. "It was quite hectic, as expected. Long straight sections and then headwind. I was initially behind Olav. We wanted to get past, but it didn’t really work out. He was in a good position. I was with Mike, but we couldn’t get past."
"I did what I could," said the world champion. "I think this was the plan, and then in the end with the whole team for Olav. We knew it was going to be difficult. I had already done my part during the race, and I think he had a good sprint," he said about the eventual second-place finisher of the day.
Conclusion in Hasselt? "This is quite a disappointment, I think. We should have brought Olav better, but it was quite hectic," Van der Poel said before moving on. Next up is the World Championship in Zurich, Switzerland in two weeks.
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- Congratulations to Mathieu and Roxanne! A Costa Blanca proposal after all those training miles sounds pretty special.michael5415-11-2026
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026