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Follow us on GoogleMathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert were spotted on Saturday in very different conditions from the snow-covered scenes that have dominated their recent days. While Van der Poel has been enjoying a proper winter escape, Van Aert has been repeatedly held back by the weather at his altitude camp in Spain with Visma | Lease a Bike. On Saturday, both found alternatives.
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Just one day after claiming his record eighth cyclo-cross world title, Van der Poel was already seen in Livigno, Italy. Under bright sunshine, the Dutchman from Alpecin-Premier Tech spent a few days relaxing with friends and his partner Roxanne.
Van der Poel also took a look at a section of the Olympic venues currently being used in northern Italy. His circle shared a group photo on Instagram — with Van der Poel and Roxanne joined by team boss Christoph Roodhooft.
On Saturday, the ski slope made way for something very different: Van der Poel swapped the snow for a neatly cut green lawn and played a round of golf. It is not clear exactly where, but judging by the time spent, it looked like a solid few hours of unwinding.
Continue reading below the photo
Van der Poel won his eighth world cyclocross title last weekend in Hulst.
Van Aert finally gets outside during training camp
Van Aert, meanwhile, has had far less reason to enjoy the winter weather. The Belgian rider was still training in decent conditions back home in Belgium earlier this month, but in Sierra Nevada he has been met with heavy snow and rain. On Thursday — his first day on Spanish soil — he stayed indoors.
He completed two sessions on the rollers using the ROUVY training platform, with pointed titles to match the mood: “I’m not really feeling the Spanish vibe yet, so decided to ride in Switzerland,” and “mopping up with the tap running.” On Friday, however, he did manage to get out with team-mate Davide Piganzoli.
The young Italian and Van Aert covered 127 kilometres and just over 1,600 metres of climbing, but on Saturday it was back indoors again due to the conditions. “I’m starting to appreciate it,” Van Aert wrote alongside another ROUVY ride.
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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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