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Just over a week after the 2020 Cyclocross World Championships, the Dübendorf mud is long gone and the rainbows have settled onto new and old shoulders. Our Belgian correspondent Mathias Dewaelsche checks in with an update on the 2020 Cyclocross World Champs in our latest Rumors and Rumblings Worlds edition installment.

Mathieu van der Poel

A few days after the World Championships, cyclocross riders resumed training and midweek racing as the European cyclocross season continues through February. One exception was the Elite Men’s World Champion Mathieu van der Poel, who put an end to his cyclocross season and is enjoying a break in the Swiss ski area of St. Luc-Chandolin.

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My pain in the ass 🥰

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A holiday, yes, but with the blessing of performance trainer Kristof de Kegel, according to Niewsblad.

“Mathieu will do nothing now for a week, I think he will go skiing,” de Kegel said. “He could choose where himself, but it had to be at an altitude of 1,800 meters or higher [laughing]. Also when it comes to that, we’re thinking about the next step. Let us enjoy this moment for a while, then we’ll continue towards the spring classics.”

Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado

The most nail-biting finale in last week’s World Championships was the Elite Women’s race as Alvarado and Annemarie Worst fought each other in a sprint for the rainbow jersey.

It led to joy for Alvarado and tears for Worst.

Alvarado is already making the rounds on Dutch television shows. She was joined by her brother and former trainer on a talk show to talk about her big win.

Nos.nl also caught up with the new World Champ Alvarado. “Why me? Until the finish line I didn’t give up for one second,” Alvarado said.

The 21-year-old Alvarado, who was born in the Dominican Republic, still qualified to start in the U23 race, but chose for the Elite category. “It was the best choice I could have made,” she reflects.

“I never had to push myself this hard. After the race I couldn’t stand on my legs anymore. My perseverance rewarded me today.”

Worst was naturally incredibly disappointed. “I don’t have much to say about it,” she said. “ I’m just very upset. It went very well and I didn’t come here for second. You just want to win.”

Thibau Nys

Towards the World Championships, Thibau Nys wasn’t in the best mood, the recon of the course in Dübendorf not making it any better. Sporza’s video series on the Nys family showcased Nys’ unhappiness with the course.

“This is 100 times more stupid and boring than I had ever dared to dream,” Nys said after his recon of the Worlds course. “I can’t do this. You don’t have enough recovery.”

Once it started raining and the course changed into a mud bad, Nys mood changed though.

“This is 100 times more stupid and boring than I had ever dared to dream. I can’t do this. You don’t have enough recovery.”

The result: the U19 Men’s World Title.

The day after the World Championships, the Nys family was already back in Belgium.

Thibau Nys convinced father and cyclocross legend Sven Nys to put on his 2013 Louisville World Champion jersey again, so they could go out on a bike ride, each of them in the rainbow jersey.

Translation:
“Dad I would like to ride with you in our World Champion jerseys, what do you think? Okay son, one more time then.”

Before they went for their ride, Thibau put all the jerseys he won in the 2019-2020 season on the dining room table. The young star showcased his World Cup jersey, Belgian Champion jersey, European Champion Jersey and now World Champion Jersey.

In Baal, the Belgian hometown of the Nys family, Thibau celebrated his world title with his fans today.
“When my dad became world champion he always treated with a barrel of beer”, Nys said. “But I’ll treat with two!” Watch the young Nys greet the crowd here.

Father Nys reflected, “Everything comes back with what I experienced myself in the past. It’s unbelievable how fast everything has gone. But it’s nice that you can let the people enjoy the past times again.”

Sponsor Trek surprised the young Nys with a new bike after winning the world title.

Shirin van Anrooij

Also first-ever U19 Women Cyclocross World Champion Shirin van Anrooij also got some new stuff coming her way. The Trek Race Shop’s painters have been busy.

A nice birthday present as well, as she celebrated her 18th birthday on Wednesday.

Marion Norbert Riberolle

The new U23 Women’s champ showcased her crazy day on the World Championships:

Both van Anrooij and Riberolle were honored on Wednesday’s first post Worlds race in the Belgian town of Maldegem.

Ryan Kamp

Not only was U23 Men World Champion Ryan Kamp’s mom was very happy with her son taking the World Title, so was team manager Jurgen Mettepenningen (cheering alongside Ryan’s mom), who he gave the Dutch rider a pro contract for three seasons at the Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal Team a few weeks ago.

A rainbow jersey on the team sure makes the recent signing look smart, even if Kamp can’t wear it when racing with the Elites.

See our continuing coverage from the 2020 UCI Cyclocross World Championships here.