NOS Cycling•
On November 7, 2015, Lars van der Haar became the first European professional cyclo-cross champion. But afterwards it was mainly about the status of the event. What was that European title fight worth?
“I still have that feeling a bit at the moment,” admitted the then 24-year-old Woudenberger in his stylish blue champion’s jersey with yellow stars. “But now that I’m wearing that sweater, I’m starting to get the feeling that it’s really cool.”
Ten years later, the list of European Championship winners includes big names and the status of the event is still growing. Van der Haar won twice, came second twice and third twice.
Today he is at the start for the eleventh time in the Belgian coastal municipality of Middelkerke. The last time, because last week Van der Haar announced his retirement. “I want to be able to enjoy it for another whole season. A kind of farewell round, yes.”
Van der Haar: ‘Lucky and unlucky that Van Aert and Van der Poel are in my generation’
Van der Haar will normally not win on the Belgian coast. His form in his last season is not sufficient for that. It will rather be up to fellow countrymen Joris Nieuwenhuis and Pim Ronhaar to challenge defending champion Thibau Nys.
Dominant Van Aert
How different it was in 2015 in Huijbergen, Brabant. Then there was one top favorite: the very young Wout van Aert, who had dominated cyclo-cross in his first season as a professional.
But that day Van der Haar was the strongest. Appreciated, Van Aert bowed his head. And Van der Haar? He spoke calmly to the media.
European Championship 2015 | Van der Haar wins the first European Championship ever after a titanic battle with Van Aert
The two-time U23 world champion was like that in 2013. ‘Jack Russell’, he was called at the time. A small fanatic terrier, not afraid to compete against larger dogs. But also smart and intelligent.
It immediately earned him a bronze World Championship medal in an icy Louisville, Kentucky. Behind Sven Nys and Klaas Vantornout, but before Albert.
A year later, Van der Haar was ready to take over the crown from Nys. But then suddenly there were two younger and larger dogs. “I won the final classification of the World Cup in 2014,” says Van der Haar. “In 2015 I was ready to become world champion. But a week before the World Cup in Tabor, Mathieu van de Poel and Wout van Aert decided to participate too.”
Exception rule
In fact, Van der Haar had created it himself. “I switched from the promises to the elite a year earlier, with dispensation. That actually opened the way for Mathieu and Wout, who also did the same later. That was actually to my disadvantage.”
Van der Haar came third in the Czech Republic. Best of the restas so often in his career. Van der Haar is at peace with it. “The cross has completely changed with the arrival of Mathieu and Wout. And they simply broke through faster than anyone expected.”
From Louisville to Fayetteville: Van der Haar was often very close to world title
“I started in the generation of Sven Nys. And now you already have the generation of Thibau Nys, his son. I am proud that I have been able to win competitions in all those generations.”
He became the final winner in the three major classifications, the World Cup (2014), the Superprestige (2023) and the X2O Bathroom Trophy (2024).
He was twice the best in the Koppenbergcross, perhaps his favorite cyclocross. And when the big ones weren’t there, he took his chance.
King of the dump
This is how he crowned himself king of the garbage dump in 2021. The European Cyclo-Cross Championships were held that year on and around the VAM mountain in Wijster, Drenthe.
That day, Van der Haar chased three Belgians alone (Quinten Hermans, Michael Vanthourenhout and Toon Aerts), overtook them one by one and crossed the finish line solo.
At 42 meters above Normal Amsterdam Level it rose to a great height. “I haven’t been able to win for years. If you can win a European title in your own country in such a way, that is extra nice.”
European Championship 2021 | Van der Haar takes European cyclo-cross title on Drenthe VAM mountain
And Van der Haar should actually have become world champion that season. A fast and technical course awaited him in Fayetteville, America, and Van der Poel and Van Aert were not there.
It wasn’t for him: Tom Pidcock had set his sights on the world title and crossed the line lying on his bike as a ‘superman’.
Van der Haar, just like ten years earlier, boarded the plane back to Europe with silver. “It’s nice if you can win yourself, but I have always been able to accept the fact that someone is better.”
Lover
The upcoming World Cup in Hulst, Zeeland, may be the first championship that he has to miss in his career. His wife, former cyclist Lucy Garner, is due to have their second child around that day.
“If my wife doesn’t give birth that day, I’m there,” says Van der Haar, laughing. “The season lasts until the last race in Oostmalle. I want to complete that, as a full-time motocross racer should.”
Not Lars van der Haar, but Joris Nieuwenhuis seems to be the biggest Dutch contender for the title at the European Championships in Middelkerke, Belgium:
Cyclocross rider Nieuwenhuis aims for European Championship gold: ‘Confidence is the key word for me’
Worth a look
