Mathieu van der Poel has been hinting in recent days at the end of his cyclocross career or at least having one winter without cyclocross. At the upcoming World Championships in Hulst, he could secure the record number of eight world titles on home soil. A participation in the 2028 World Championships in Hoogerheide – where his family roots lie – is therefore no foregone conclusion. In a conversation with WielerFlits, the namesake of that cross, his father Adrie van der Poel, understands and regrets that.
MVDP himself wants to stop on a high, something his father understands. However, it is always difficult to determine that moment, he thinks. He would find it disappointing and at the same time understandable. Moreover, Van der Poel senior emphasizes that both his son and Wout van Aert are preparing for the road season and that the cross-specific elements are diminishing. And that this makes it harder than, say, ten years ago.
And yet his entourage has said for years that cyclocross helps Mathieu to be the best version of himself on the road.
"Look, his biggest rival Tadej Pogačar doesn’t do cyclocross and he also reaches a super high level. So Mathieu says he only knows if it works when he has tried it. Maybe next year he’ll still say: 'we’ll do another year' or 'we’ll skip a year.' Mathieu just has to do what he always has: follow his feeling."
What could it bring him, not doing cyclocross and training longer in Spain?
"It’s pleasant cycling there anyway, of course. On the other hand, a cyclocross winter is fun now because he stopped fairly early after last road season. After the Tour de France, he actually didn’t race much more. Knowing him, he had trained enough and wanted some challenge and competition. But if you decide to continue racing until the Giro di Lombardia, I can imagine you say: I’ll take a nice holiday and only start road training in early or mid-November. Then the cyclocross season naturally comes under threat."
Do you feel the challenge and enjoyment are still sufficient for Mathieu?
"I think so. There are always challenges. Things are getting closer. The fiftieth World Cup victory, a hotel that doesn’t mean much to me. You start comparing generations, but those are worthless things to me. In my time there were four World Cups, now there are twelve. Such comparisons don’t make sense in my view.
Looking at the current generation, I think Mathieu and Wout – with a lot of respect to the others – still stand out. They enjoy it, they can do it, and they have their talent. That makes a difference. That fiftieth World Cup win, an eighth world title, those are nice milestones. But there are also milestones on the road, with a fourth Tour of Flanders and a fourth Paris-Roubaix. That keeps you busy. You can make something out of everything.
Mathieu handles it very well. He has already won much more than he ever dared to dream of. So whatever comes next – and that’s also how he races – that’s just a bonus. Mathieu isn’t focused on making history. From my experience, as I know him, he’s absolutely not concerned with that."
Adrie van der Poel – photo: photopress agency Cor Vos
But in 2028 there will still be a World Championship in Hoogerheide, your home. He would miss that too if he stops earlier.
"We will just have to accept that then. Those are choices you make as a sponsor. And God knows, maybe he doesn’t compete for two years and then decides to do another season. That’s crystal ball gazing. We as organizers are super happy that he has raced in Hoogerheide all those years. If he then decides not to take part, it’s just the way it is. Maybe not nice, but those choices must be accepted."
And what if cyclocross suddenly debuts at the 2030 Olympic Games?
"IF that happens. That would be fantastic for cyclocross, but some things will have to change here and there. With all due respect, cyclocross remains primarily a Belgian affair. I don’t even include the Netherlands in that, even though our country is seen as a cross nation. I agree with that regarding riders, but not with respect to the races. There are only a few in the Netherlands, then it ends."
