Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to news
news
Racing
Video: Top skills as cyclo-cross ace Mathieu van der Poel avoids wiping out in the sandMathieu van der Poel skills in the sand.PNG

Video: Top skills as cyclo-cross ace Mathieu van der Poel avoids wiping out in the sand

Superb bike handling from the Dutch youngster as he continues dominant start to season
by Simon_MacMichael
Sun, Oct 15, 2017 21:26
11

To become cyclo-cross world champion at the age of 20, you need to have some serious bike-handling skills.

And with his grandfather being three-time Tour de France runner-up Raymond Poulidor and his father Adri also having won a rainbow jersey in cyclo-cross – as well as the Tour of Flanders and Liège–Bastogne–Liège – Mathieu van der Poel has some cycling pedigree.

Now aged 22 and almost untouchable in the new season, with eight victories in nine races, the Dutchman used some top skills today to avoid wiping out on a sandy descent at Superprestige Zonhoven.

Somehow he managed to keep the bike upright and continue his dominant start to the season as he won by 22 second from current world champion, Wout Aerts.

 

Close call, love it #luckyme @playsportsbe

A post shared by MVDP (@mathieuvanderpoel) on

 

Mathieu van der Poel
cyclo-cross
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

Add new comment

11 comments

Avatar
Harmanhead | 7 years ago
0 likes

 He just realised he forgot to turn his garmin on . As his hands were busy, he used his chest.

Avatar
burtthebike | 7 years ago
5 likes

I'd have fallen off at the top and saved time.

Avatar
fenix | 7 years ago
7 likes

Go on BTBS - we look forward to your masterclass on how to ride sand.

Avatar
DavidKK | 7 years ago
14 likes

Luck? The quote attributed to Gary Player seems to be appropriate here “The more I practice the luckier I get”

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds | 7 years ago
3 likes

So he fooks his line up - his front wheel was out the channel, back wheel swings around because his weight is forward and the sideways momentum, he hangs on for dear life and the rear wheel comes back around and people are giving him big raps.

Skills my arse this is luck and hanging on. some people are easily impressed.

Avatar
nigerian prince replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 7 years ago
13 likes
BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

So he fooks his line up - his front wheel was out the channel, back wheel swings around because his weight is forward and the sideways momentum, he hangs on for dear life and the rear wheel comes back around and people are giving him big raps.

Skills my arse this is luck and hanging on. some people are easily impressed.

 

 

My God your comments are tedious.

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds replied to nigerian prince | 7 years ago
0 likes
lork wrote:
BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

So he fooks his line up - his front wheel was out the channel, back wheel swings around because his weight is forward and the sideways momentum, he hangs on for dear life and the rear wheel comes back around and people are giving him big raps.

Skills my arse this is luck and hanging on. some people are easily impressed.

 

 

My God your comments are tedious.

And yet you read it.
Unlike your forgetful bilge my comment is honest and accurate.
Clearly you don't have the brainpower to come up with anything insightful

Avatar
nigerian prince replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 7 years ago
5 likes
BehindTheBikesheds wrote:
lork wrote:
BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

So he fooks his line up - his front wheel was out the channel, back wheel swings around because his weight is forward and the sideways momentum, he hangs on for dear life and the rear wheel comes back around and people are giving him big raps.

Skills my arse this is luck and hanging on. some people are easily impressed.

 

 

My God your comments are tedious.

And yet you read it. Unlike your forgetful bilge my comment is honest and accurate. Clearly you don't have the brainpower to come up with anything insightful

 

 

nah mate, 10 other people find my "bilge" accurate, honest and insightful. Your comments are unfailingly tedious. 

Avatar
Rapha Nadal replied to nigerian prince | 7 years ago
2 likes

lork wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

So he fooks his line up - his front wheel was out the channel, back wheel swings around because his weight is forward and the sideways momentum, he hangs on for dear life and the rear wheel comes back around and people are giving him big raps.

Skills my arse this is luck and hanging on. some people are easily impressed.

 

 

My God, you're tedious.

Fixed.

Avatar
burtthebike replied to nigerian prince | 7 years ago
2 likes
lork wrote:
BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

So he fooks his line up - his front wheel was out the channel, back wheel swings around because his weight is forward and the sideways momentum, he hangs on for dear life and the rear wheel comes back around and people are giving him big raps.

Skills my arse this is luck and hanging on. some people are easily impressed.

My God your comments are tedious.

I'm beginning to suspect that "behind the bike sheds" is some sort of English equivalent for "back under the bridge."

Avatar
Yorkshire wallet | 7 years ago
2 likes

Pah, he's no Marc Marquez. 

//38.media.tumblr.com/04961b574e2b343738e51a453459ff45/tumblr_nmngwyVePL1tpv5tmo1_500.gif)

Latest Comments