Ostend (Belgium) (AFP)

Belgian Wout van Aert and Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, both triple world champions in the discipline for the past six years, compete on Sunday in the sand of Ostend for the cyclo-cross world title, which, barring a huge surprise , should not escape them.

The Czech Zdenek Stybar, present on the "Reine des Plages", and the last winner (in 2014) not from the flat countries, is fatalistic ": except mechanical incident or fall, I do not see how the title could escape them.

The duel between the Belgian, last winner (on the road) of Milan-San-Remo, and the Dutch, winner of the Tour of Flanders 2020, will be exciting.

Who will the course be the most favorable between the two 26-year-old athletes?

The few fans who tried Friday and Saturday to scrutinize, in the distance, reconnaissance closed to the public because of Covid (this will also be the case for the race), under an unpleasant drizzle, discovered a course of 2,900 meters in two parts .

Physics first.

With 600 meters in the sand made heavy by the rising tide of the North Sea, an impressive bridge (135 meters at 21%) and the rain that fell for 48 hours.

Then more technical, on the racetrack, admittedly muddy but much more rolling.

"A priori, Van Aert's bigger engine should favor him but Mathieu seems to be in very good shape and will benefit from his technique in the racetrack. No doubt, however: the two riders will be in the red for an hour", note former world champion Sven Nys.

In short, the outcome is undecided and the two champions return the pressure to each other.

Outgoing world champion, "VDP", Raymond Poulidor's grandson has won nine times this winter, while Van Aert has won five times.

In their direct confrontations, the Dutchman leads (5-3) but it is the rider of the Jumbo formation who won the Cyclo-cross World Cup.

So who ?

The high tide which will occur 25 minutes after the start will favor the big engine of Van Aert, estimates Nys.

And on the spot, the specialists promise a "strong" tide.

The rest, out of sand, would be more favorable to the Alpecin runner.

"We are above the rest, admits Van Aert, but I think at the moment Mathieu has a little something more. He is therefore the favorite."

"VDP", son of Adrie van der Poel (former plow specialist), says he is "satisfied with (his) condition). But he warns:" It is a course that suits us both.

In my opinion, it will be played in the sand.

We will have to push.

We can save 20 seconds and resume them the next round ".

And in case of failures of the two cadors, they will be few to aim for the rainbow jersey, the Briton Tom Pidcoch being the main spoiler.

© 2021 AFP