Mathieu van der Pol (Alpecin Phoenix) spoke about his return to cyclocross racing over the weekend, saying he is in better shape than he was at the start of his 2019 relaunch, despite starting his "cross" campaign more than a month late this time.

The Dutchman will not face longtime rival Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) for the first time until the Namur World Cup on December 20, but in two weekend races (X2O Trofee in Antwerp and Superprestige Gavere Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) and World Cup leader Michael Vanthourenhout.

Speaking to WielerFlits (open in new tab) and other Belgian media, Van der Pol has a few more weeks to prepare before starting his 'cross campaign for the 2020-21 season, because he has already won everything he needs to win in this sport, He said that he will be able to compete in the season without feeling any pressure.

"I can't criticize VanArt, but I would have liked more time and a longer rest period. Two more weeks would have been even better, but you have to start somewhere and I still need a few more races to get a good feeling." [Cyclocross is a very specific sport and the level is high. Competing against riders who have already been competing longer than last year is not as obvious as you might think; thanks to the COVID-19 crisis, we came from a completely different period of time.

"On top of that, Wout is also competing in the Grand Tours. Give him a chance to get his rhythm back

"I think we're a little better prepared than we were a year ago, but technically we haven't done much yet.

Last season, Van der Pol began his 'cross campaign with the fourth round of the Super Prestige Series, Rudervoorde, in early November.

He announced his 20-21 calendar earlier this week, with four X2O Trophy races, one World Cup race in Namur, two Superprestige races later this month, and a partial Dutch National Championship on January 9, before the World Championships in Oostende on January 31. The calendar only runs.

Van der Pol has stated that winning his fourth rainbow jersey is his goal this season.

"That is my only goal. Outside of the World Championships, there is no ranking to defend. But every cross starts to win. There is no pressure.

"It may sound arrogant, but I used to set goals in cyclocross and I achieved them all. That means the pressure is gone. Winter used to be the season when I had to prove myself, but now summer is my goal. That doesn't mean I'm any less enthusiastic or sharp at the start."

When van der Pol returns to the road in 2021, he will have his most productive road season to date, with a full spring classics victory and a Grand Tour debut at the Tour de France on the horizon.

As the reigning Tour of Flanders champion, he will naturally build his year around these two periods, with the cross-country mountain bike race at the delayed Tokyo Olympics as his other major goal. This race, which will be held just nine days after the end of the Tour, will be challenging and will require careful planning of goals and preparation.

"We are going to make a combination [of the Tour and the Olympics]. The problem is that we don't have a choice. Yes, I think we will start the Tour with the goal of reaching Paris. I don't intend to leave early, but I understand that it's not an ideal combination.

"My goal is to win a stage in the Tour. The green jersey must be in the back of my mind. But that's not my planned goal.

"I also have a backup plan to compete in a couple of mountain bike world cups to get some points. It took me a long time to get to the top of mountain biking. It has become my favorite discipline and the toughest of the three disciplines."