It’s mid-August, which is late enough in the summer that we can deservedly think about the looming fall and the arrival of cyclocross. Even if I don’t enter a single race, I’ll be glad that it is happening, that riders are going to colossally hard they sometimes puke. Not that I’m happy—never mind. I think you get the idea.
Today’s video is the duel between Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert at the 2023 World Championships. The race is an absolute marvel. What I take note of as I watch the race are the following: First, of course is the speed. These guys are going speeds that I associate with watching people on the road. Everyone is in their big ring, and they are on tires with so little air in them they will bottom out their tubular rims on hard bumps, like the bottom of every flyover. How they can go so fast on what are essentially flat tires speaks to just how phenomenally fit these guys are. Second, speaking of flyovers, I don’t often see riders stomp up the flyover out of the saddle, pedal across the top and pedal down the other side. Third, those immaculate white shoes and socks both riders are wearing. Fourth, in the final sprint, van der Poel jumps from behind and does so with such explosive power that van Aert never really gets in his draft; van der Poel has a full bike length on him—sometimes more—all the way to the line.
My favorite type of bike racing. Can’t wait. And, let’s all appreciate that between YouTube, HBO Max, and maybe Hulu (?) we get to watch it all!