Mathieu van der Poel Ditches the Mullet for Business
For the past cyclocross season, Mathieu van der Poel sported an eye-catching mullet under his helmet, epitomizing the adage “business in the front, party in the back.” However, as we saw at today’s E3 Saxo Classic, the Alpecin-Deceuninck superstar opted for a trim ahead of the cobbled race.
Van der Poel recently signed an epic 10-year deal with Canyon, so perhaps he wanted to look a little more buttoned up. Or maybe he was sending a message to rival Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike). The two cyclocross stars battled all winter in the mud, but today, things got a lot more serious at the cobbled classic with dubious weather conditions and crashes.
Formerly known as E3 Harelbeke, the E3 Saxo Classic is one of the races where riders can truly assess who’s fit and who is not as we gear up for the Tour of Flanders (March 31). While E3 isn’t considered a major Classic, it is a significant test. It is the first time Van Aert and Van der Poel have gone head-to-head on the road.
The World Champion’s season debut at last week’s Milano-Sanremo showcased his exceptional form, leaving competitors wary of his prowess in the upcoming one-day races.
Rouleur reported that the rivalry between the two in 2024 is especially interesting considering the different preparations each has done leading into the Classics block. “Van der Poel made his season debut at Milano-Sanremo last week, where he was integral to the victory of his teammate Jasper Philipsen. The Dutch rider’s performance on the Poggio climb as he closed the gap to a flying Tadej Pogačar and then subsequently chased down nearly every move in the approach to the finish in Sanremo was proof of Van der Poel’s form and should have his rivals feeling nervous ahead of the upcoming one-day races.
In contrast, Van Aert has spent recent weeks honing his skills at altitude in Tenerife, Spain, targeting victories at the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. The two favorites’ differing approaches added intrigue to their impending road showdown. But a crash for Van Aert on one of the cobbled climbs just 40km from the finish may have made the victory much easier for Van der Poel, who held his chasers back with a gap of 1:31”.
While the focus remained on the rivalry between Van der Poel and Van Aert, the E3 Saxo Classic boasted a formidable field of contenders, including Mads Pedersen and Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek), Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious), Kasper Asgreen, Julian Alaphilippe, and Gianni Moscon (Soudal–Quick-Step).
But back to the mullet. Over the past few months, it became a fan favorite on social media and is already being mourned. That said, there are also plenty who are happy to see it go. As fans bid farewell to Van der Poel’s short-lived haircut, speculation abounds over whether his new look will prove advantageous or detrimental in his quest for victory on the cobblestones of the 2024 Tour of Flanders.
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