Pim Ronhaar enjoyed podium ceremony with Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel: "Still something special"

The powerhouse from Hellendoorn in the Netherlands even managed to follow the Big Two in the muddy track for a while, but ultimately had to acknowledge MvdP and WvA were superior. Not that he minded, quite the contrary. "That is a beautiful podium," he acknowledged, visibly satisfied. "For me, the third place was the highest achievable result, I think. I started off strong, following which Mathieu and Wout immediately rode off. However, I felt good and so I just tried to ride along with them, which I was able to."

"At some point, Mathieu accelerates and then he is just riding in a different gear than everyone else. After that I made some mistakes and had to let Wout go," Ronhaar gives his version of the race story. "I also didn't try to come back because I sensed that he could also step up a gear. But all in all, I felt super good."

After the little incident with Van Aert in Hulst, a podium spot next to the Belgian was a great achievement for the 22-year-old rider. "Of course, you start getting to know them, especially now that you sometimes talk to them. But it's still something special because they are two of the greatest riders in the world. To be on the podium with them is indeed an honor."

Anyone who looks at Ronhaar's results from this winter will see a clear growth curve. At the beginning of the season, he alternated between good and not so good results, but by now the beast has been unleashed and he has already made his mark at the European Championships and in several major races. He won the cyclo-cross races in Dublin and Dendermonde, and thus stood on the podium with Van der Poel and Van Aert on New Year's Day.

"Things are going really well," he concludes. "Recently, my worst cyclo-cross race was probably Gavere, where I finished eighth. That consistency is just there, but there will probably come a race where everything is working against me a bit. So far, my form has been really good and I can keep going for an hour without losing pace."

Ronhaar does not have a clear explanation for his improved form. "I am doing a lot of work on my back, stretching it and keeping it flexible. I notice the same thing as Joris Nieuwenhuis: when the back is in good shape, the power is just there. I also get great treatments, am eating and resting as I should... So yes, those are all little things that help me to consistently perform well," he reflects.

Meanwhile, he is gradually becoming a force to be reckoned with for the World Championships, which he is working towards via the cyclo-cross races in Koksijde, Zonhoven, the Dutch Championships, Benidorm and Hoogerheide. "Winning will be very difficult, but it's becoming increasingly realistic to aim for a medal there. But I try not to be too preoccupied with that, although I can't ignore the fact that I can compete for a podium spot."

After the championships in the Czech Republic, this summer will also bring a broader introduction to road racing. "You just have to be able to ride hard, and I can do that. If you can compete for the podium in cyclo-cross, you can also make something happen on the road," says Ronhaar, who is not thinking too much about it at the moment. "I hope to perform at a higher level now, but first I just want to finish the cyclo-cross season off well. After that, I'm going skiing with David Haverdings to let off some steam, and then I'll focus on the road season."