Breaking Records: Mathieu Van der Poel’s Dominance in Cyclocross World Titles

It’s happened! On Sunday, February 1, 2026, Mathieu van der Poel became elite cyclocross world champion for the eighth time in Hulst. With this, the 31-year-old Dutchman makes history in the cross in multiple ways. Get your history books ready…

First of all, Van der Poel can now call himself sole record holder for the most cyclocross world titles in the elite men’s category. The Alpecin-Premier Tech leader already matched the late Erik De Vlaeminck’s record in 2025 in Liévin, France. His illustrious predecessor won seven world titles in the elite category during his career, while Van der Poel’s tally sits at eight after Hulst.

But there’s more: Van der Poel has now become world champion at the elite level for the tenth time. He is currently eight-time world champion in cyclocross, but also won one world title on the road (after the chaotic Road Worlds in Glasgow) and soloed to the rainbow jersey over gravel in Leuven in 2024.

Van der Poel also claimed his fifteenth World Championship medal as a pro in Hulst, when you consider the different cycling disciplines in which he has competed. Counting his medals in the youth categories even brings the total to nineteen (!) World Championship medals.

Level with Vos 
As noted earlier, with his eighth world title Van der Poel surpasses Erik De Vlaeminck but also matches Marianne Vos. The latter has also been eight-time cyclocross world champion in the elite category, but among the women.

Van der Poel can further claim his tenth world title in cyclocross (8 times as a pro, 2 times as a junior) and – last but not least – become sole record holder for the most medals at a cyclocross World Championship. With thirteen medals, he has overtaken Marianne Vos, the Frenchman André Dufraisse, and the German Rolf Wolfshohl. Those three currently still stand at twelve medals each at the cyclocross Worlds.