"He should have pushed me even harder": Cyclocross rider apologises after Mathieu van der Poel shoves him out the way... because he was taking mid-race selfie with a fan; Dave Brailsford spotted at Man Utd win as Ineos deal nears + more on the live blog

Mathieu van der Poel and Puck Pieterse won the Boxing Day cyclocross in Gavere yesterday, however much of the post-race discussion has centred, not on their dominant mud-taming abilities, but the Dutchman's shove of a fellow rider on the third lap...

¡QUÍTATE DE AHÍ! 🤣 Van der Poel en modo bestia quitando del camino al tico Felipe Nystrom #CXWorldCup pic.twitter.com/ti2UV0V053

— Camilo Uribe (@Uribecycling) December 26, 2023

And while some seemed to enjoy Van der Poel's apparent win-at-all-cost, stop slowing me down, attitude towards the lapped rider Felipe Nystrom, others have labelled it unnecessary, overly aggressive, and deserving of a penalty.

I don’t think there was much need for that Mathieu… if anything it looks overly aggressive https://t.co/KWtMpEi9aT

— Peter. ✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿🚴‍♂️(he/him/his) (@PBCycleWrites) December 26, 2023

A key bit of context is the explanation for why Nystrom was there in the first place. No, he wasn't just lapped, accidentally oblivious to Van der Poel's storming approach from behind due to the noise of the crowds, but instead... because he was taking a selfie with a supporter...

Spanish pro cyclocross and road rider Felipe Orts Lloret addressed the discussion around the video, saying: "I appreciate and respect Felipe's effort but any reaction from Van der Poel would be justified. The race is the race and anyone who is not competing in it cannot prevent the first person from going where they need to."

And on the whole, the fans who took to social media to share their views agreed...

Am I the only one who thinks that this is not aggressive at all and that it's a pure reflex to avoid a fall?

— Jimi Hendrix (@jimi_on_zwift) December 26, 2023

Clowning around with the fans while the race leader is coming through is unacceptable… Fan favorite or not pay attention while getting lapped!

— Lukáš Ronald Lukács (@lucasaganronald) December 26, 2023

A rider not paying any attention to his surroundings nearly takes out the leader of this race. No, it wasn't aggressive. It was a natural reflex to stay on his bike.

— James Talks Cycling (@JamesTalksSport) December 26, 2023

Nystrom later told Belgian news outlet Sporza about the incident, his embarrassment and guilt obvious, the 40-year-old urging people against blaming Van der Poel, saying the race winner should have "pushed me even harder", and even going as far as to say he is ending his season early because "I have to bear the consequences of my actions".

"I feel terrible," he said. "It was 1,000% my fault what happened there. Mathieu had to push me — it should have been even harder. I was in the way and I feel very bad about it.

"I am concerned that Mathieu may receive hate messages. Some people tell me I'm stupid, but others say Van der Poel was mean and didn't have to push me. It's horrible that he would experience a negative impact from a situation I put him in. I wish that I could look Mathieu in the eye and say how sorry I am.

"I don't really deserve to be here. I had a dream and I achieved it, but my mistake on Tuesday is too big for me to continue. Normally I would have had the [financial] means to continue until the World Championships. But now I'm just going to leave next week.

"I'm going to give the other Costa Rican (Joseph Ramirez, ed.) one last push in Hulst and then he has to take over the torch. I have to bear the consequences of my actions, I have disappointed people."

Former Top Gear host and one-time road.cc YouTube interview guest James May guest edited this morning's BBC Today programme, during which he spoke about "road sectarianism", specifically ending it, and called it more important than infrastructure.

Speaking from the saddle in West London, May said: "I'm a car enthusiast, but I also love bicycles. I love cycling around London because it is good for you and it is quite good fun, and to be honest it is now the quickest way to get about. 

"Cycling is good and I like cycling infrastructure, I like cycle lanes but some of them are overwrought and too complicated [...] I think a change in attitude is more important than infrastructure, good though infrastructure is, as long as there is road sectarianism and we have angry drivers and evangelical cyclists, nothing is going to be solved."

> James May says 20mph is "plenty fast enough", and hopes "change in attitude" can help end road sectarianism

Explaining that he has just been cut up by a driver turning across his cycle lane and into a side road, May said he has some level of sympathy for drivers in such a situation, as there is "no precedent for this layout on the road network".

"On my bike rides it normally happens once, and I'm ready for it because I cycle around here a lot, but it only has to go wrong once for it to be quite unpleasant," he continued.

🏆 Superprestige Heusden-Zolder (C1) 🇧🇪

1 🇧🇪 Wout van Aert
2 🇧🇪 Eli Iserbyt
3 🇳🇱 Joris Nieuwenhuis

4 🇧🇪 Vandeputte
5 🇳🇱 Del Grosso
6 🇧🇪 Wyseure
7 🇧🇪 Huybs
8 🇨🇭 Kuhn
9 🇧🇪 Th. Aerts
10 🇧🇪 Dockx
➡️ Results: https://t.co/hWU5xWlEOY pic.twitter.com/ibkbbr8cWZ

— Cyclocross24.com (@cyclocross24) December 27, 2023

And a win for Fem van Empel too, making it two wins for yesterday's second-place riders in the absence of their winners, plus two wins for Jumbo...

"What a BATTLE!" ⚔️

Fem van Empel and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado sprint to the finish in Heusden-Zolder! 🏁#CXWorldCup pic.twitter.com/CiNdgkEhtr

— Eurosport (@eurosport) December 27, 2023

Fesshole, if you're not already acquainted, is the anonymous confession cesspit of the internet, usually filled with tales of sexual misadventure or family troubles, or sometimes both. Today, however, cycling's on the agenda...

I cycle an e-bike as I commute 40 miles a day, it's hilly and I don't want it to take all day, I've lost 25kg, gained a 6 pack and can crush melons with my thighs but it still don't stop some bald obese man commenting an e-bike is cheating at some point during my commute.

— Fesshole 🧻 (@fesshole) December 27, 2023

Mathieu van der Poel has spoken to Sporza this morning to address the incident during yesterday's cyclocross...

"I know Felipe Nystrom's story and have sympathy for him," he said. "Yesterday, however, he gave me a fright. I initially thought he had pulled over to let me through, until he suddenly wanted to leave when I was at the same height. I pushed to keep myself straight and not hit his bike.

"I read that he apologises, but that's not even necessary. I wasn't angry with him either. Felipe made an error in judgement and that can happen. Everyone makes a mistake sometimes. He should certainly not give up his dream for that. I hope he stays here and continues to complete his planned programme."

🔴 INEOS’ Sir Dave Brailsford, tonight in attendance at Manchester United game @ Old Trafford. pic.twitter.com/s5nPENPIVz

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 26, 2023

Manchester United's 3-2 comeback win over Aston Villa was attended by the man touted to be heavily involved with the Premier League giants once a deal for investment from Ineos goes through...

> Jim Ratcliffe wants Dave Brailsford to overhaul Manchester United — billionaire behind Ineos sporting empire remains confident of successful bid 

Manager Erik ten Hag told the Amazon TV cameras pre-match that Brailsford "wants to work with us, we want to work with him. I am looking forward to it" and the familiar face was then snapped in the stands at Old Trafford. 

"I think it's very positive," Ten Hag added after the game. "This group has a lot of experience in sport at the highest level, so it will be very good for Manchester United."

Not everyone has followed Brailsford's rise through the British Cycling, Team Sky and Ineos ranks however...

Thought it was Greg Wallace off Masterchef

— Josh (@joshpearson180) December 26, 2023

 United came from behind to overhaul a two-goal deficit at half-time, winning the Boxing Day clash 3-2... cue marginal gains talk...

ffs Dave Brailsford has only gone and used '2-0 is a dangerous lead' as one of his famous marginal gains

— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) December 26, 2023

And of course... 

Man Utd look in dire need of some asthma inhalers, skin creams, bespoke pillows, maybe even a Triamcinolone shot or some TUE-cleared prednisolone. And obviously some marginal gains. Where on earth are they gonna find that?

— Nick Harris (@sportingintel) December 26, 2023

17k people in Gavere. Cross is boss. @UCIcyclocrossWC pic.twitter.com/0LPLtYweW6

— Tomas Van Den Spiegel (@tomasvds) December 26, 2023

That's 6,000 more than who watched the Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Fulham yesterday afternoon, however the festive party atmosphere was not without issues. British rider Cameron Mason said the crowds were the "craziest I have seen at a race" but that it spilt over to "some of the most dangerous".

"Some of the craziest crowds I have seen at a race today, but also some of the most dangerous. Fans leaning over the barriers, looking the wrong way and impeding the riders. Double barriers needed at most points of the track to keep the fans back and to stop them affecting racing," he said.

I was there and you're definitely right. People were looking at the screens as soon as the 5th rider passed while leaning over the barriers at some places. Saw a guy in front of me get hit by a wheel of a rider running cause he wasn't paying attention. pic.twitter.com/eAUSLIefBc

— Jarko (@EnViJaYo) December 26, 2023