Dhe cycling has had difficult times. Doping, doping, doping. Who is the biggest doper in the peloton, who is the biggest cheater – that’s what the discussions were about. It is not the case that cycling is now purified and clinically pure after dark years. The question marks behind some achievements, behind ever new distance and speed records, still light up, but things have changed. Road cycling has entered a new era. In an era that has to be questioned like in any other sport, but which makes it fascinating again, which brings back the spectators, the explosive sport offers week after week.
It is the era of a new generation of drivers, the likes of which have not been seen in this class and number for decades. One of them is 28-year-old Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel of Team Alpecin-Deceuninck, a five-time world cross champion and the brightest star in cycling’s firmament this spring season, which culminated in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. A week ago, van der Poel finished second in Flanders, this Sunday he won the legendary hunt over the cobblestones in northern France with a brilliant solo. He had also won Milan-Sanremo in a similar way this year.
