Van der Haar cannot agree with "critical strong words" from UCI boss: "Not the right time"

The race began with an energetic start from Toon Vandebosch and Laurens Sweeck, both representing Crelan-Corendon. Vandebosch quickly took the lead in a bold solo effort. However, his pace slowed, allowing the 24-year-old from Friesland to create an early lead. Sweeck and Ronhaar eventually caught up, with Ronhaar, a young talent from Baloise Trek Lions, making a strategic move. He accelerated impressively through the muddy section near the material post in the fourth lap, leaving his Flemish rivals trailing behind until the finish line. Meanwhile, Van der Haar skilfully closed the gap with Vandebosch and Sweeck, eventually overtaking them in the second-to-last round to secure a second-place finish. This led to a dual celebration for Sven Nys's team.

"I am very happy with this, especially when you see the nature of the course", says Van der Haar in a one-on-one conversation with this website. "This is not exactly a Van der Haar course. It's not the kind of track I'm typically comfortable with. It's the sort where you'd usually feel your legs seizing up and anxiety setting in" he says, laughing broadly. "But for me, it is a small victory to be here on the podium, especially because there was so much running and stumbling involved."

According to Van der Haar, the ten years younger Ronhaar could not time his attack better. "Pim went for it at the best moment ever. He was better than the two guys behind him and breaks away at exactly the right moment, especially since I joined Laurens and Toon not much later. From that moment on, we could actually control the race."

An unleashed Ronhaar had by now firmly set off, with Van der Haar behind him seeming to be a golden teammate. "It wasn't really blocking I was doing, but more that I waited a few times and kind of controlled," said the 32-year-old from Utrecht. "Occasionally I accidentally got ahead of those guys, and at those moments, I just had to pause until they overtook me again. And that was, of course, perfect for Pim. I realized I was better than the other two guys. However, it was mainly the large group behind (including Ryan Kamp, Cameron Mason, and Eli Iserbyt) that made me nervous."

In the penultimate round - when Ronhaar already seemed quite sure of the victory - Van der Haar rode away from the Flemish riders of Crelan-Corendon. "It was very likely that I would make a move in the penultimate lap, but then Laurens went. That was nice, as I eventually managed to overtake him and cross the finish line alone." Thus, Van der Haar finished behind Ronhaar, who exactly one week earlier at the European Cyclo-cross Championships had seen the bronze go to Van der Haar. The latter overtook Ronhaar in the last straight line, but there was no hint of any feud. "Pim and I are just super good friends. There was just some miscommunication during the European Championships. We talked it over nicely while eating a burger afterwards."

And with that, the Sunday afternoon celebration for Baloise Trek Lions - it coincided with the 21st birthday of the absent Thibau Nys -  was made even more special. The Dendermonde race, much like the previous day's event in Niel, featured a notably muddy track. While Van der Haar had expressed criticisms about the Niel course, he found the Dendermonde route more to his liking. "Navigating through yesterday's mud was a challenge, but today’s course offered multiple paths – three, four, or even five different lines to choose from, making it less hazardous," he explained. "In contrast, the Niel track was riskier in my view, as it limited riders to a single path without alternatives."

Speaking of the race in Niel: Due to a series of misfortunes, Van der Haar couldn't contend for the victory, but still made cycling headlines in a different way. Mid-race, we saw the always friendly veteran suddenly sitting next to his bike. What happened? A shoulder dislocation, then seconds later, he expertly and effortlessly reset it as if it was nothing. When asked by IDLProCycling.com if he still had trouble with his well-known issue, he confirmed. "I did have some trouble, but during a race, adrenaline is rushing through your body, and you're always busy. On that course, I also didn't need to lift my bike in an awkward way, so it went all right. Otherwise, you can't finish second."

With his second place, Van der Haar maintained (and strengthened) his leading position in the World Cup standings. "It's great to wear the leader's jersey for another cross. I hope to wear it after next week in Troyes and also in Flamanville," he looked ahead to what is coming in the highest-ranked cross-country classification.

On the morning of November 12th, about four hours before the World Cup mud spectacle in Dendermonde really kicked off, UCI President David Lappartient made some drastic statements. Speaking to a French cycling site, the 50-year-old Frenchman commented on Thibau Nys' absence in a World Cup race. "He says he's tired, but why would he ride on Saturday in Niel? If you're tired, you don't ride," he first stated firmly. "If a rider prefers to participate in a national event during World Cup races, then they shouldn't ride in the next World Cup races, and therefore not in the Cyclo-Cross World Championships either. The World Cup is not a competition where you can choose what you want. Every rider must play the game," he added.

When asked, Van der Haar definitely did not agree with the words of the UCI head. "I don't think this is the right time to use critical power words in the discussion," said the Dutchman, who is always straightforward. "In my opinion, as riders and teams, it would be better to sit down with the UCI and organize an open discussion. I believe that is the best approach to the question of how we will maintain the World Cup in the future. Again: Using strong words now is not the best way."