Dutchman Lars van der Haar (Argos-Shimano) is the Cyclocross World Cup rider of the season so far. Three wins in five races speak volumes. Tomorrow he will try to extend his lead at the World Cup in Rome. His toughest opponent isn't a Belgian, as one might think, but the German champion Philipp Walsleben (BKCP-Powerplus). Will the only 22-year-old Van der Haar give his new Argos-Shimano team a tailor-made debut with the overall World Cup victory? In any case, he has the class for it.