One round. That is how long Mathieu van der Poel’s closest attackers, fellow countryman Tibor Del Grosso and Belgian Thibau Nys, remain close to him. The 31-year-old Dutchman then begins his expected solo over the sixteenth-century fortification of Hulst in Zeeland, where more than 40,000 spectators shout softly at the future world champion.
Ten seconds ahead becomes half a minute, half a minute becomes 45 seconds. With dull thuds on the pedals, Van der Poel stomps up one of the two longer climbs. He is the only rider who does not put a foot on the ground on the climb along the water during the entire race. After eight rounds he crosses the finish line with a typical cheering gesture of footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.
It is the eighth title for Van der Poel, the fourth in a row. Last year in Liévin, France, he equaled the record of Erik De Vlaeminck, who became world champion seven times between 1966 and 1973. Now he will go down as the first man with eight world titles in cyclo-cross. For the women, Marianne Vos already achieved that number at the World Cup in 2022, in Fayetteville, America.
Refreshed and adorned in his new rainbow jersey, Van der Poel speaks to the press a little later. The congratulations from King Willem-Alexander have already arrived. “This record was the only thing I had in mind at the beginning of the season,” says the record champion. “The world title is the reason why I still do cyclo-cross.” Yet the question is also unavoidable in Hulst: how long will Mathieu van der Poel continue in cross-country?
The cycling world, including himself, has been speculating about Van der Poel’s future as a cyclo-cross rider for some time now. Two years ago, in Tábor, Czech Republic, he openly had doubts about shifting his focus to the road. Since then, his dominance in cyclo-cross has only increased: he has won every race in the past three seasons, except for one: in 2024 he had to settle for fifth place in Benidorm.
Best rider ever
This season went flawlessly. Only in Maasmechelen did things seem to be as exciting last weekend, but even two flat tires could not keep Van der Poel from winning. This season there was no classic Dutch-Belgian duel with Wout van Aert, who regularly defeated him in the previous decade. In the slippery snowcross in Mol, the Visma rider seemed to be catching up with Van der Poel in early January, until he fell and broke his ankle.
It won’t be about fun. “I still think cyclo-cross is fantastic to do. But you have to look at other options from time to time,” Van der Poel said last week in Hoogerheide. It led to the surprise of rival Van Aert, who appeared in the podcast Live Slow Ride Fast said he could not believe that Van der Poel dropped that suggestion and called him “without a doubt” the best motocross rider ever.
In Hulst, Alpecin-Premier Tech team boss Philip Roodhooft confirms discussions about a different preparation for the road season. In a month’s time the peloton will start the spring classics, and Van der Poel wants to perform there too. In terms of preparation, this still involves trial and error. In recent seasons, Van der Poel has been commuting back and forth in winter between training camps on the sunny Costa Blanca and the cold cyclo-cross races in Belgium and the Netherlands, where he works full days with a warm-up, reconnaissance, the competition and formalities to media and sponsors. “The considerations are very simple: try a year without winter in the field, yes or no,” says Roodhooft.
In two minds
“The cyclo-cross season is always my first peak of the season. Physically, but also mentally,” Van der Poel explains his own considerations. “I want to be in top shape for cyclo-cross, riding at 90 percent wouldn’t be enough here. That’s what some people underestimate, how much work goes into it. That’s why I’m thinking about other approaches to the season.” On the Costa Blanca he is now in two minds during training rides, he says: “The cross is a goal, but in the back of my mind I also have the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. These are also races in which I can write history in the coming years.”
A stroke of luck for the spectators in Hulst was the fight that arose behind Van der Poel between the only 22-year-old World Cup debutant Tibor Del Grosso and the 23-year-old Thibau Nys, a new Dutch-Flemish battle after Van der Poel-Van Aert. After the duo had to let go of the leader, they spent a long time together.
Del Grosso and Nys took turns taking the initiative. Del Grosso quickly realized that the Belgian had difficulty cycling up the long climb on the stronghold in one go, but had to leave a gap in other parts of the course. He grimaced every now and then, had to get up several times, and seemed to be heading for third place a lap before the end.
But then it suddenly started to rain heavily in Hulst. The Belgian soon started to slip on the increasingly muddy surface. Del Grosso passed him, opened a gap and never gave him away. After a playful jump from the last bridge, he crossed the finish line in second place, saluting. “We pushed each other to the limit,” he said happily.
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