Believe it or not, at the MTB Olympics test event, there were wooden planks again: "Don't burst into laughter"

Élancourt, that's the name of the hill near the French capital where Olympic gold, silver, and bronze will be contested as part of the 2024 Games. 'The entire course is set on an old landfill from the 1800s, but it's all beautifully vegetated terrain. It's truly quite impressive,' confides the Dutch selector.

During this weekend, the first races took place, with Loana Lecomte and Victor Koretzky emerging victorious on their home turf. For the Dutch team, the primary objective was to thoroughly assess the course, which Puck Pieterse did once again with her GoPro. She finally finished ninth in the women, three spots behind compatriot Anne Terpstra. In the men, Mathieu van der Poel managed to claim 28th place, but more importantly, he was satisfied with the course. 

"We weren't entirely sure what to expect, but we can't really complain," De Knegt remarks when questioned. "They had added a significant amount of gravel to it, giving it a somewhat Limburg clay-like texture now. When we arrived on a slightly wet Friday, it was quite challenging. It was slippery and messy. The organization was aware of this and had added a substantial amount of gravel, but it hadn't fully settled yet. As a result, there were a few spills, particularly during the initial phase when riders' front wheels would skid on the gravel. That made it somewhat unconventional.

This atypical nature drew some criticism. Reigning Olympic champion Tom Pidcock didn't want to be overly negative but did express his reservations about the abundance of gravel on the course. Approximately 95% of the route was covered in gravel, which hadn't fully bedded in. However, that's just how it is. I believe it was a wise decision because if it starts raining, it would have been nearly impossible to ride. It just needs some time to settle. While the climbs should suit Tom, they aren't particularly technical. It's more of a physically demanding circuit rather than a technical one. On some other courses, you can make more of a difference in terms of technical skills."

All in all, De Knegt is content with the course. 'It truly is an internationally worthy mountain bike course. Upon arrival, it's very picturesque. I'm satisfied, and I believe our riders are as well. It should suit them quite nicely. I have a positive feeling about it; it was indeed a valuable experience for us.

In the previous Games, Mathieu van der Poel faced an issue at a jump where a so-called 'plank' was still present during the test event. This led to a significant controversy, and especially disappointment in van der Poel's camp. According to De Knegt, a similar situation occurred in Paris. "We had to communicate with all coaches and stakeholders through a group chat, where we could relay necessary adjustments. During one race, and please don't burst into laughter, there were two planks at certain sections,' he revealed. 'The first time, they removed the smaller plank, resulting in a serious crash. They are planning to make some adjustments, but I don't anticipate any major changes."

"Once again, there was commotion,' De Knegt chuckled when asked about these planks. Initially, they intended to remove the boards during the competition, but it became evident that it would be too dangerous, so they had to leave them in place. This led to considerable confusion, mainly because such elements are not typically present at World Cup events. Eventually, they provided clear communication, and if all goes well, there will be two unofficial test days in May for us to attend. That would also be beneficial."