The cyclocross World Cup has proven to be a successful venture for Baloise Trek Lions thus far. Thibau Nys claimed victory in the opening race in Waterloo, U.S., on behalf of his father Sven's team, and then Lars van der Haar smartly took control of the race in Maasmechelen on Sunday. This makes it two out of two victories, putting them ahead of Pauwels-Bingoal Sauzen for the time being.
Van der Haar immediately emphasized the significance of this victory for him, especially after opening his season's account last Tuesday in the Nacht van Woerden. He expressed his gratitude to his teammates in Maasmechelen, saying, "I was able to capitalize on their support." This victory marked his first World Cup win since 2021.
During the race in Belgian Limburg, Nys, Joris Nieuwenhuis, and Pim Ronhaar, the latter labeled a 'gutsy rider' by commentator Paul Herygers, took the initiative early on, consistently keeping riders like Eli Iserbyt occupied with closing gaps. This strategy allowed Van der Haar to carefully select his moment for a decisive move. "So, I focused particularly on the challenging section to avoid mistakes afterward," explained the rider from Woudenberg regarding his successful performance.
"It was a high-speed course, making it difficult to create a significant gap," he further explained to IDLProCycling.com. "But I felt very strong, so once I had a lead, I maintained maximum effort. However, the margin for error is small in such conditions." Van der Haar faced a flat tire but fortunately, it occurred close to the transition zone. In the end, he secured victory with a 21-second lead over his nearest rival, Iserbyt.
What caught our attention is that not only on the racecourse but also off it, the atmosphere within the Baloise Trek Lions team appears to be excellent. How does Van der Haar perceive this? "I think we understand each other's strengths very well, which enables us to support one another during races. Moreover, outside of the races, such as during training camps, we are genuinely good friends."
"We can share laughs, but we can also, at times, as we say, offer each other constructive criticism," Van der Haar chuckles. "It works effectively. Sven Nys himself has been part of Dutch teams, so he can certainly relate to the Dutch," analyzes the man who has been under his mentorship for several years and is now leading in the World Cup after his victory.
Currently, Van der Haar's primary focus is on the X2O Trophy, so he doesn't attach too much significance to his leading position just yet. "Typically, I don't compete in two of these World Cups, so we'll see how we fare. But I usually don't participate in the Dublin and Val di Sole races," referring to the Irish cross on November 26 and the Italian one on December 10. The upcoming week holds importance for Van der Haar, with the Koppenbergcross on Wednesday and the European Championship in Pontchateau, France, on Sunday.