Despite etching tales of power-packed rivalry in cycling races, two champions have recently transcended the boundaries with sheer brotherhood. Leaving their opponent teams’ fans in amusement, Mathieu van der Poel and Remco Evenepoel embraced a training project with joined hands. Raising eyebrows with this strategy, the cycling duo was spotted riding across Spain. 

With the upcoming 2024 season knocking on the door,  van der Poel from the Alpecin–Deceuninck was never imagined as a training partner for Soudal–Quick-Step’s Evenepoel. As they tackled the elevated terrains during this admirable cycling trip, the iconic duo was accompanied by other teammates and training professionals. While these foes turned bros for the energetic ride, the legendary scene hinted at the possibilities of a great trip ahead. 

Cycling opponents join forces in practice ride 

As they ascended over 7000 feet along the route on Wednesday, the cycling group clocked an impressive average speed, reading around 19 mph. Considering the challenging steepness they kept encountering, their pace was quite impressive throughout the 77-mile path. Additionally, the two champions had other riders venturing along, which included noteworthy names like Noah Vandenbranden and Freddy Ovett. 

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While Siebe Roesems was another important member of this meritorious cycling crew, Evenepoel was seen posting the ride on Strava. Subsequently, the training session witnessed van der Poel preparing for a cyclocross comeback, while Evenepoel had other plans in mind. Gearing up for his maiden Tour de France appearance next summer, this alliance also hinted at the possibility of something brewing beneath the surface. 

A thrill ride of notable players

The collaborative cycling trip was not just a casual ride but had been meticulously planned instead. Undertaking a rigorous 123.46 km journey with a remarkable 2,211 meters of climbing, van der Poel’s prime motive was to maintain his spirits while enjoying the tour ahead. Gladly, despite the grueling ascent, they maintained an impressive average speed of 30.6 km/h, depicting their individual passion for cycling in a shared pursuit. 

Simultaneously, the cycling world was rocked by some daunting revelations that Mathieu van der Poel conveyed in his latest exchange. As the current world road race champion, he mentioned facing a crossroads in his career, while hoping for a potential shift in his cycling schedule. With his glamorous dominance of five international titles, he elaborated further on his condition, adding details about his persistent back issues. 

While these troubles stemmed from an unfortunate crash during the Tokyo Olympics, Van der Poel expressed uncertainties about his cyclocross future. Significantly, the cycling icon’s move was due to the sport’s unique physical demands, that kept exacerbating his injury concerns.

As the 2024 season promised power-packed cycling prospects, the rivalries between Van der Poel and Evenepoel seemed to be at a halt for now. Will the pro racing landscape witness more such surprising collaborations between fierce adversaries? Fans are now awaiting affirmation, overjoyed at this latest show of brotherhood. 

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