Cycling: We don't actually associate the term "landed on the road" with positive feelings. But with the crosser team Corendon - Circus it has a completely different meaning. Contrary to some fears, the cyclocross specialists have also found their way into road cycling, especially their superstar Mathieu van der Poel.
Corendon – Circus 2019: Van der Poel reaches the top of the world
No doubt: The Corendon - Circus team is probably the most dazzling in all of cycling. Consisting of crossers, the red and white team from Belgium is now also getting involved on the road. This became clear in the 2019 season at the latest. With rank #18 in the WorldTour ranking, they left several teams from the top racing class behind - although not part of the WorldTour. It was mainly responsible for this Mathieu van der Poel. The Dutchman celebrated a total of XNUMX road victories this season, including overall victory at the Tour of Britain, Brabantse Pijl and Dwars door Vlaanderen. In addition, he won with Amstel Gold Race probably the most exciting race of the entire season. But the rest of the very small team also proved to be competitive. Tim Merlier for example, became Belgian champion in road racing. Dries De Bond won Halle – Ingooigem. And Roy Jans and Let Norman Hansen won stages in Turkey and Denmark. All in all, the Corendon – Circus team can look back on 21 wins, ten second places and ten third places.
Transfers: The squad will remain small in 2020
In 2020, the Corendon - Circus team will mainly remain at home in cyclocross. This is clear from the size of the squad alone. While many teams sign almost 30 drivers under contract, the Belgian team will only have 16 professionals in the squad for the coming season. Have left the team with Joeri Stallaert, Maarten van Trijp, Otto Vergaerde, Tom Meeusen and Stijn Devolder five drivers who had little success on the road. With the British Ben Tulett, the Belgian Ryan Cortjens and the French Antoine Benoist two 18-year-olds and one 20-year-old join the team. Corendon - Circus is thus setting the course for the future. Because at some point you may have to tackle this without star Mathieu van der Poel.
Corendon – Circus 2020: All for one
Also in the coming season everything will be about in the Corendon - Circus team Mathieu van der Poel turn. The Dutchman currently dominates the cyclocross scene at will. He's also the only world-class driver on the road - to be honest. Because even if the other professionals from Corendon - Circus can ensure one or the other success in smaller races, Mathieu van der Poel is the only driver in the team who is really competitive in important races. The next step is also trusting Tim Merlier. The Belgian champion has placed well ahead in a few sprints and should be a little faster in 2020. The two Germans Marcel Meisen and Philip Walsleben are probably used more in cross races. The development of the only 19-year-old Swiss Loris Rouiller on the other hand, it can be followed with excitement and interest.
Click here for the complete squad of Corendon - Circus.
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