Mathieu van der Poel wins an epic 2023 Road World Championship

Spectacular race lived today on Scottish soil. A real natural selection marked by the high pace, the continuous attacks and a tremendously complicated route in which Mathieu van der Poel has felt like a fish in water, which also made its appearance in the form of rain, to win with a strong attack 22 kilometers from the finish line.

Mathieu van der Poel continues growing his legend and now has his rainbow jersey

Unstoppable Van der Poel in an urban race that became a real elimination test. A race that began with a hectic start with a stoppage due to protests by demonstrators who blocked the road in the initial stretch that led the cyclists from Edinburgh to Glasgow.

The arrival at the final circuit opened the race with a Danish team that was pushing the pace and the beginning of continuous attacks that were selecting the group until, with less than 40 kilometers to go, a team formed by Van der Poel, Van Aert, Pedersen and Pogacar in pursuit of Alberto Bettiol who had attacked a dozen kilometers before.

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With 22 km to go, as the Italian was being chased, Van der Poel launched a tremendous attack that no one could answer. Not even an untimely crash, in which he broke one of the fasteners of his right shoe, shortly before crossing the finish line for the penultimate time, could stop a Dutchman who thus enters the Olympus of cycling. That select group of riders who have won the rainbow jersey that recognizes the World Champion.

Second was his nemesis, Wout van Aert, who used his technique in the last corners to come in ahead of his companions, closing the podium a great Tadej Pogacar who takes away with this great race a little bitter aftertaste that left him the Tour de France.