Mathieu van der Poel shows once more his versatility by clinching victory at the European Mountain Bike Championships in the Czech Republic this weekend.
The unapproachable Dutchman is feeling
relieved and proud to have fulfilled his favourite rol in Brno. "This was one of my big goals before the start of the season. Two weeks ago I was not good at all, but I got better and better and felt very strong today."
The 24-year-old Corendon-Circus rider was in the lead immediately after the start, but that was not long-term. Van der Poel went down in the descent and had to start a catch-up race.
"I felt really good right from the start and that is why I perhaps went a little too enthusiastically into the descent", the number three of the last World Mountain Bike Championship looked back. "I made a small mistake and crashed hard, but luckily it was without consequences and I was back at the front quite quickly."
At the end of August the MTB World Championship is also on the program, but he will not be at the start there. Van der Poel sets the World Championship on the road as his next goal...
Picture by Michal Cerveny