Mathieu van der Poel, the reigning World Champion, is aiming to defend his title at the 2024 World Championships in Zürich, Switzerland. However, the Dutch rider knows that the course will be challenging, and he's not the favorite to win. He's been working hard to be ready, though, and he has a strong team behind him.

Despite the challenging terrain, Van der Poel is confident in his ability to repeat his success from last year. He has a good team behind him, and he's been working hard to prepare for the race. In fact, he has said he will miss Wout van Aert in the European Championships, because he will be a good ally in the hard part of the race. This shows he understands that he needs to rely on his teammates. However, this is not without some frustration and disappointment. Wout Poels is not part of the Dutch World Championships squad, even though he feels he could have helped. He said he's been training for the race and was looking forward to wearing the orange colors again. This brings to question the Dutch coach's selections. But, as Koos Moerenhout, the Dutch coach, explained, he has to find a balance in the team based on their characteristics and the tasks they need to fulfill.

Van der Poel has made it clear that the World Championships will be his last road race of the season, and he's looking forward to tackling the cyclocross season after that. Despite not being the favorite, he is ready to give it his all and defend his title.

Van der Poel's Strategy for the World Championships

The Dutch national coach, Koos Moerenhout, has emphasized the importance of having an attacking selection for the World Championships. The team is a mix of experienced and younger riders, all suited to the difficult course. The team will be hoping for another fantastic result with Mathieu van der Poel, and they'll be fighting for it as a team.

The strategy for the Dutch team will depend on Van der Poel's form and the course of the race. Van der Poel has a trusted confidant in Oscar Riesebeek, his teammate at Alpecin-Deceuninck, who is part of the team. The other teammates, who have strong climbing abilities, are:

• Wilco Kelderman
• Frank van den Broek
• Bauke Mollema
• Sam Oomen
• Bart Lemmen

Moerenhout will be looking for a good balance in the team, and he doesn't want to call up too many riders with the same characteristics. With the inclusion of the riders above, he seems to be making the right choices.

Facing the Challenges in Zurich

The course in Zürich is challenging, with 274 kilometers and 4,500 meters of elevation gain. The course will demand a strong and well-balanced team. The team is looking forward to an attacking race, and they're hoping for another great result with Mathieu van der Poel.

Van der Poel knows that the course is demanding, but he's been working hard to prepare for it. He has been seen in Spain, where he has been trying to shed some kilograms to be at his best on the hilly course. He's also done a lot of long training sessions to prepare for the race's length.

The World Championships will be a test of strength and endurance for all riders. The Dutch team is hoping that their strategy and teamwork will lead them to another victory.

The Dutch Team's Commitment to Winning

The Dutch team is committed to winning, and they're confident in their ability to achieve that goal. They have a strong team with a blend of experience and youth. Van der Poel is a strong leader and he has the support of his teammates to achieve success. The team will be looking to work together to achieve a collective victory and defend the title. The team is ready to fight for victory, and they're confident in their ability to achieve their goal.

The World Championships will be a thrilling event, and the Dutch team is one to watch. Van der Poel's ability to repeat his success will depend on the teamwork, strategy and endurance of the Dutch team.