Oliver Naesen, a seasoned cyclist, recounts a pivotal moment during the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad race, where he realized Mathieu van der Poel was destined to win. Naesen's insight came from a seemingly innocuous exchange with van der Poel. He exclaimed 'Idiot!' after being cut off by a rider from Uno-X, but van der Poel calmly replied, 'Maybe he's not the idiot.' This subtle interaction left a lasting impression on Naesen, who then predicted van der Poel's victory. The anecdote highlights van der Poel's remarkable composure, even in the face of intense competition. Despite his own crash, Naesen was impressed by the strength of his team, Decathlon CMA CGM, which consistently featured riders in the top ten and aggressive moves. Naesen also addressed the debate surrounding Florian Vermeersch's podium finish, suggesting that Vermeersch should be proud of his performance rather than apologetic for riding with van der Poel. This incident underscores the impact van der Poel's presence has on the perception of others' performances, and Naesen believes that riding with the best is not a sign of weakness but a strategic move.
