congratulations: Lars van der Haar explains how he played a role in overcoming Wout van Aert at the 2025 World Cup in Benidorm: “I didn’t anticipate achieving a podium finish on such a high-speed course.”

Lars van der Haar on Defeating Wout van Aert at the 2025 World Cup in Benidorm
January 20, 2025, 12:00 PM EST

Lars van der Haar, one of the most skilled riders on the cyclocross circuit, recently opened up about his unexpected podium finish and his role in the dramatic defeat of Wout van Aert at the 2025 World Cup in Benidorm. Despite entering the race as a formidable competitor, van der Haar admitted he didn’t anticipate excelling on a course designed for high-speed racing, making his achievement all the more impressive.

A Challenging Course

The Benidorm circuit is renowned for its fast, technical layout, favoring riders with strong acceleration and tactical finesse. Van Aert, considered one of the best all-around cyclists in the world, was the clear favorite heading into the event. Known for his raw power and consistency, van Aert’s dominance on such circuits has been almost unrivaled.

For Lars van der Haar, the odds of competing against van Aert on such a course seemed slim. “I didn’t anticipate achieving a podium finish on such a high-speed course,” van der Haar admitted. However, his performance proved that determination, strategic planning, and teamwork can sometimes outshine even the most dominant figures in the sport.

Team Strategy at Play

Van der Haar credited much of his success to his team’s strategy, which focused on disrupting van Aert’s rhythm early in the race. Working alongside teammates, van der Haar played a key role in setting a blistering pace in the opening laps, forcing van Aert to expend energy chasing down attacks.

“We knew Wout thrives in long, controlled efforts, so the goal was to make the race as unpredictable as possible,” van der Haar explained. By alternating aggressive attacks with strategic positioning, van der Haar and his team were able to keep van Aert from settling into his usual dominant pace.

A Career-Defining Moment

As the race progressed, van der Haar found himself in an elite group battling for the podium. Drawing on years of experience, he managed to navigate the technical sections with precision while conserving energy for the decisive final laps.

When asked about his mindset during the race, van der Haar said, “It was all about staying focused and believing in the strategy. Even when the pace was relentless, I reminded myself that anything is possible in cyclocross.”