Herygers thinks Van der Poel won't ride at all this winter: 'Cyclocross suddenly seems very relative'

Will Van der Poel still race cyclocross this winter? “Hasn’t that become the question of the last ten years?” Herygers laughed in an interview with Het Nieuwblad.

“It’s a mixed bag, of course. He really loves cyclocross, but he doesn’t want the stress. And in terms of results, he’s reached a point where he can only lose. No doubt he’ll start getting the itch to race again soon. And then the question is whether he’ll give in to it or not. He’s also going to be a dad in January...”

Van der Poel and his girlfriend, Roxanne Bertels, announced this summer that they are expecting their first child. Bertels is due to give birth at the end of the cyclocross season. Herygers knows exactly what that’s like, so he wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see Van der Poel for a while.

"My oldest daughter, Lily, was born in January 2009, right after the busy Christmas season and just before the World Championships. I remember that as a very special moment. You really do feel like you’re walking on air for weeks. But at the same time, cyclocross suddenly seems very relative. When you see that little bundle lying there, you don’t lose sleep over whether the World Championships went well or badly. So in a way, I’d understand if Van der Poel decided to sit out a year. Although that would, of course, be a real shame for cyclocross.”

One rider who will definitely be competing is Thibau Nys. He’s returning to his beloved Koppenbergcross. “The Koppenberg is a race where Nys can really put his technique and strength to good use. If it rains, there’s a lot of walking involved, and then it’s a whole different story. But he’s going to need that race anyway as preparation for the European Championships: to really push his heart rate into the red, to feel that race rhythm… You can’t simulate that in training.”

Nys has already been European champion once. Will he be the top favorite in the absence of Van der Poel and Wout van Aert? “It’s hard to say, because we don’t know how he’s been preparing. But if he’s made this a priority, then he’ll probably be in good shape. Thibau knows how to peak. To me, he, Michael Vanthourenhout, and Joris Nieuwenhuis are the three favorites.”

This early in the cyclocross season, the big stars will at least stay off the course for a while longer. That also means cyclocross organisers have to make do without any real crowd-drawers. But according to Herygers, that’s more of a problem for the men and women who are actually there now. “I think that among the real cyclocross riders—as I just called them—there’s a figure missing, someone like Klaas Vantornout or Mario De Clercq."

The Belgian then explains that statement. “We’re missing men who dare to stand up for something or speak out based on their emotions. Something they might regret later, but that gives them character and also makes them popular. These days, everyone is so nice to each other. Of course, I encourage collegiality, but it could certainly use a little more spark.”