Imagine dedicating your life to a sport, only to consistently fall short of the ultimate prize because of two extraordinary rivals. That's the reality for Dutch cyclocross veteran Lars van der Haar, who feels the sting of never quite reaching the pinnacle of World Championship glory due to the dominance of Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert.
For years, the cyclocross scene has been a two-man show, with Van der Poel and Van Aert trading blows and collecting titles. Van der Poel's reign in recent years followed the Van Aert/Van der Poel duopoly that defined cyclocross in the late 2010s and early 2020s. This left many other talented riders, like Van der Haar, perpetually fighting for second place. He openly admits the frustration of competing in an era defined by these generational talents.
"It feels very frustrating at first, of course. Because yes: we're good, but they're better," Van der Haar conceded on the Live Slow Ride Fast podcast. "I've always been someone who's very level-headed about that. So: if someone is better, you have to compete and you have to show it. Fine. And they were." He acknowledges their superior skill, emphasizing the need to rise to the challenge – a challenge he consistently faced.
Van der Haar is set to retire soon, leaving behind a legacy of impressive achievements. He boasts two European Championships, four national titles, and victories in virtually every major cyclocross cup. He's accomplished more than most could ever dream of. But here's where it gets controversial... Many believe his raw talent and consistent performance were worthy of a World Championship title. Could he have won multiple times in a different era?
He specifically points to the 2016 World Championships in Zolder as a particularly painful near-miss. Then just 22, Wout van Aert claimed his first world title that day. Van der Haar, however, was leading the race before a mechanical issue derailed his chances. "In 2016, in Zolder. Because it's just... it's not that I lost it there, but it's the way I ruined my own chances," he laments, accepting responsibility for the unfortunate incident. It's worth noting, though, that even without the mechanical, Van Aert was demonstrably strong that season. Would the result have been different?
Interestingly, after that victory, Van Aert never again secured the rainbow jersey. And this is the part most people miss... In 2022, when both Van der Poel and Van Aert were absent from the Cyclocross World Championships, Tom Pidcock seized the opportunity, taking the victory in Fayetteville. Van der Haar finished second. It seems these generational rivals indirectly blocked his path to glory on multiple occasions.
Van der Haar will have one final shot at the World Championships in Hulst. "Objectively speaking, it might have cost me one or two world titles. You know, if someone's better, they have to compete. And they did. They defined and changed cyclocross. I had to grow with them," he concludes. His words are a mix of acceptance and lingering regret.
So, what's your take? Do you think Van der Haar was truly denied a World Championship title by Van der Poel and Van Aert's dominance, or is that simply the nature of competitive sport? Was his mechanical in 2016 an unrecoverable stroke of bad luck, or would Van Aert have won regardless? And what constitutes a "generational talent" versus simply a very good rider? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
