With tears in his eyes during the national anthem and gold around his neck, Delano Heeren (16) from Sprundel experiences a weekend to remember. The young cyclo-cross rider, who sees Mathieu van der Poel as his role model, was crowned junior world champion in Hulst on Sunday morning. Emotionally for himself, but also for his mother Linda. “I was so happy that I could grab him.”
Afterwards, the new world champion gave the flowers to his mother. “They are for all our family’s work,” she says, looking at her husband Mario and daughter Ivana. “This world title is of course very much part of our family. It is not just a race, there is so much involved. From getting the equipment in order to cleaning everything, we are all working on it. We do it with love.”
Linda: “He is only 16 years old and new to the juniors. We would have been very proud with a place in the top five. Everything fell into place in this competition and he took his chances when he had to. How exciting it was to follow. Fantastic, we are curious to see what we will experience in the coming days.”
Father Mario can hardly believe that his son won the world title for the second time this weekend. “I am so incredibly proud and happy. After ten national titles, this prize now follows, it feels unreal. My phone is ringing off the hook, everyone sympathizes. Delano was supposed to go to Spain for a training camp on Friday, but I don’t think he will do that anymore. After these world titles, he will still ride a few races.”
Dreams come true
Delano himself found it difficult to comprehend what had happened in the Zeeland mud. “This is a dream come true, the feeling is hard to describe.” Earlier this weekend he already won World Cup gold in the mixed team relay.
The comparison automatically follows between world champion Delano and the best cyclo-cross rider among adults: Mathieu van der Poel. “He has been my role model for many years. We sat together at the table with food, which was special,” he says after the ceremony. “Just like Van der Poel, I would prefer to continue combining cross-country and road racing. Hopefully with success.”
Born talent
At a very young age, Delano already had a thing for speed. Mother Linda remembers well that her son raced through the house and garden on the balance bike. “When he got a little older, he took up the mountain bike and the racing bike. As long as it went fast,” she says laughing.
Delano turned out to be a great talent on the road bike at the local Willebrord Wil Vooruit association. He is now a five-time Dutch road champion and the same number as a cyclo-cross rider. The highlight of his career followed on Sunday in Hulst, Zeeland, with the world title.
