Van der Poel joins the criticism of the new chicane in the Paris-Roubaix: "Is this a joke?"

Van der Poel shows discontent with the decision to modify the entrance to the legendary Trouée d'Arenberg in the Paris-Roubaix 2024. The organization has included a chicane with the aim of reducing the speed at which riders hit some of the world's most famous cobblestones, although they assure that they are responding to a request that originated from the peloton itself.

Van der Poel sarcastically criticizes the new Arenberg chicane

Cycling coexists with an element of danger impossible to eradicate, and riders stoically accept the risk of falls, which they understand are part of the game. Just a few days ago, Van Aert was forced to undergo surgery and give up some of the season's goals. Despite all this, regulatory bodies and organizers have made efforts since the sport's inception to increase safety.

Now, the organization of the Paris-Roubaix 2024 issued a statement last Wednesday announcing the modification of one of the most legendary points of what will be the third monument of the season. Specifically, ASO explained that they had decided to introduce a chicane just before the entrance to Arenberg.

The chicane represents a drastic change in the approach to one of the most legendary cobbled sections of the race. Riders, who reached speeds close to 60 km/h when hitting the cobblestones, will now have to brake and turn the bike before facing the 2.3 kilometers of cobbles.

ASO's statement indicates that the change is motivated "for safety reasons and at the request of the CPA" -cyclists' union-. Thus, they will try to address the goal of "reducing the speed at which riders enter the sector and limiting the risk of falls on the cobblestones."

The news sparked the most ironic side of Mathieu Van der Poel -who on Sunday will try to defend the victory he achieved in 2023- with a message in which he clearly shows his displeasure with the decision. The Dutchman wrote "Is this a joke?" and attached an emoticon.

Is this a joke? https://t.co/WkkUe2YC5U

— Mathieu Van der Poel (@mathieuvdpoel) April 3, 2024

Advances in technology and in the preparation of cyclists have increased the average speed at which they ride in these types of competitions. In fact, in the last edition of 2023, the record figure of 46.84 km/h on average was reached.

The opinion of the World Champion seems to go against the requests of his professional colleagues, who expressed themselves through the CPA. The union's president, Adam Hansen, stated that "the cyclists arrived and we acted on their behalf. Now, with a slower entry to Arenberg, the riders will not arrive with speed and momentum. This will make this sector even tougher than before."

On the other hand, the director of the Paris-Roubaix and former cyclist, Thierry Gouvenou, declared that "I have raced here twelve times, and twelve times I have arrived in front of Trouée d'Arenberg wondering how it would turn out."