“We’ve been rivals since we were very young,” Van der Poel says in Geraint Thomas’ podcast about his rivalry with Van Aert. “We’ll always be mentioned in the same sentence. I think we should also be grateful to each other because we pushed each other so much. You always know that you have to be 110 percent to beat Wout, both on the field and on the road. He’s a very difficult opponent, but there’s always been respect between us.SO SAD: Mathieu van der Poel and Remco Evenepoel has receive a suspension letter today and Aert Vie is now…
When asked if Van der Poel could be friends with a rival, he answers clearly. “It is very difficult to be friends. I get along quite well with Remco (Evenepoel, ed.) , but with him the rivalry is different. We don’t often ride the same races. Wout is more of a rival than a friend, but always with respect. And I think that is okay.”
“It would just feel weird if we were friends,” Van der Poel continues when pressed. “I don’t know, maybe that’s something for after our careers. For now, let’s just be rivals with respect.”
Friday, the Zilvermeercross in Mol will see the first Van Aert-Van der Poel duel in the field this season. For both champions, it will be their second cyclocross race of the season. Van Aert won on December 9 in Essen, Van der Poel won last Saturday in Herentals.
