Greg Van Avermaet and Mathieu van der Poel seem to have found each other more than ever before. In recent months, the two top athletes have regularly spent time together on the Spanish coast.
Returns on Sunday December 14th MVDP back in the field, to be precise in the Citadel-cross in Namur. His preparation for this return mainly took place – as we have come to expect from Van der Poel – in his beloved Spain.
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It was training buddy Van Avermaet who saw and experienced with his own eyes how the cross king prepared for a new cyclo-cross winter, he tells Sporza.
Not infrequently, the former top driver and current half Ironman world champion (non-pro) cycled alongside the 30-year-old Dutchman, who is aiming for his eighth (!) world title in cross country this season.
Van der Poel sets an impressive running pace
”We just sent some messages to each other every now and then to ask whether we wanted to link some training sessions together. It is also motivating to train together,” says Van Avermaet about the joint training sessions.
The already 40-year-old Flemish also had to compete with Van der Poel while running – also a shared passion between the two tenors – who often maintained an impressive pace. “I think he ran 3’20” in a kilometer a few days after I left, so that’s a really strong pace. But could I beat him? I think he’d outpace me rather than the other way around.”
Will Van der Poel ever participate in a triathlon? Van Avermaet looks ahead
So Van Avermaet can laugh about it. The Flemish even managed to get Van der Poel to join him during a swimming training session, which Van Avermaet of course included for his Ironman. “He can do that quite well, but to really participate he would of course have to train his technique in the pool,” he explains Van der Poel’s swimming skills.
Will Van Avermaet ever see Van der Poel participate in a triathlon? The answer is affirmative. ”It is of course not yet an option, but after his career I can certainly see Mathieu trying it. He is an athlete who can do all sports, so it is certainly a possibility in the future.”
