Cyclisme : Mathieu van der Poel defies cycling norms with wider handlebars

Mathieu van der Poel sticks to his guns on handlebar choice, rejecting the narrow trend in cycling. The Alpecin-Premier Tech leader, an eight-time cyclo-cross World Champion, prefers his wide, retro-style handlebars. "I just use the handlebars I've used all my life," he states at Tirreno-Adriatico. While most pro cyclists adopt the UCI's minimum width of 400mm, van der Poel's setup stands out. His handlebars measure a striking 450mm center-to-center, confirmed by a team mechanic. He utilizes the CP0049 Pro Pace cockpit from Canyon, which allows for width adjustments but clearly exceeds standard dimensions in his case. Despite the aerodynamic push in the peloton, van der Poel maintains his unique style, asserting, "They don't seem wider to me. They look wider because so many other riders have gone narrower.