The issue isn't what van der Poel is busy doing in December and January. It's what he's busy doing in June and July.
Pidcock knows how it should be done
But 2019 only worked because Alpecin (Corendon-Circus, at the time) weren't invited to the Tour. As long as the team is going to the Tour, I don't know how the sponsors let their biggest rider stay away.
As suggested above, do the first week, then drop out. He’s done his lot for sponsors, time he was allowed to do what he wants.
The one-week Tour could work, but I don't know if it helps a whole lot with this year's XCO schedule. Unless he got into some races in May and June, he'd only have one opportunity to race a World Cup, the week before the World Championships.
Jenny said, 50 % running.
Which is too much even for a CX race, let alone a XCO World Cup.......
IRC had a wet specific tire in the late 90s that actually made a difference in slimy stuff, but it did roll noticeably slower if you weren't in the gunk. For a day like today it would have been good.
