Mathieu van der Poel He continues to reap success in cyclocross. It's a pattern that's been repeated over the years: makes his debut late in the season, after taking some rest from the road (where his performance is always much more brilliant in the first part than in the second) and begins to win one race after another, until the world apotheosis. This year, among other things, the calendar has favored him and the Dutchman is also trying to win the World Cup despite having started later.
A winter without competitions
But all this has a price and at home Alpecin Deceuninck they have been reporting it for some time. It's all very well to say that the WorldTour team is equally divided between road and cyclocross, but ranking reasons require greater attention to the former. (at least until the UCI reform comes into force, which also includes disciplines that are valid for the assignment of points). The team manager Philip Roodhooft He has been pushing for a change in the Dutchman's strategy for some time now, and he's not the only one.
Even dad Adrie Van der Poel, who has spent his entire career between cyclocross and road, reaching the top in both, is pushing for a change of pace. "We have discussed this several times," he revealed to Spouse – it would be good for his mind, to take a break from competitions for a while, to calmly prepare for the road season by dedicating himself body and soul to the preparation, but We both know that staying for a long time without competitions, the adrenaline they give you is difficult for the way he is made».
Chasing the 8th world title
Mathieu has always been reluctant: "When we talk about it, he always says to me, 'What do you know about it?' I understand. It doesn't matter what I like, but what he likes. He makes his own choices, completely freely, and that's right." The world champion, however, is giving it more than a passing thought: if he were to win the world title next February 1st (and given his current dominance over the competition it is more than likely) he would become the absolute master in the history of the specialty, even detaching himself Erik De Vlaeminck stopped at 7 titles and Then he might even sit out next season. This would be a perfect passing of the torch to Thomas Pidcock, who has said he wants to return...
«A lot depends on when his road season ends – says father Adrie VDP – precisely to avoid too long a break from racing. But if he were to do the Vuelta with a competitive form and then the Italian classics, he could also give it up at least for a year.».
Doubts about Hoogerheide 2028
Yes, a year. Because there's an event the Van der Poel family is really looking forward to. In 2028 the World Championships will be held in Hoogerheide and the design of the event's route was entrusted to Adrie's experience. He'd naturally like to have his son at the start, so taking a year off from cyclocross, in 2026-27, would be ideal, with a view to his return. But Mathieu had been skeptical on this issue.
«I have always said that I would like to break the record for world titles and do it in my country – he declared to The Latest News Hulst is the right opportunity to do it, then I wouldn't have much else to say in this environment, while on the road the opportunities are always numerous (let's not forget that the Dutchman is in the running for the Grand Slam Career in the classic Monuments as pogacar(with 3 wins out of 5, ed.). I'd like to retire in style, as a winner. And what if I finish 5th in Hoogerheide? It would leave a bitter aftertaste. If I can win earlier, that's much better.
«I still love cyclocross, but…»
Mathieu's plan is to spend an entire winter in Spain, without distractions, working on his fitness, slowly improving it and making it last longer. This choice is also dictated by the time he spends, and by a new awareness linked to his 30 years: "I still love cyclocross, but it's very demanding and requires a lot of energy. Furthermore, I would like to see if my level, without cyclocross, would be even better and I can't know if I don't try.But cyclocross remains the discipline I love the most, the spectators, the atmosphere. It's such a strong love that it's holding me back from taking the big step."
Dad Adrie remains on the sidelines, waiting for what will happen and for his son's decisions: «It would be nice if Mathieu were there, he knows that I care a lot about that event.But when I hear him speak, I know there's a strong possibility he won't be there. We'll see, but if there's a winter to skip, it's definitely next year..."
