Mathieu van der Poel Secures Sixth Cyclocross World Title, but Road Racing Takes Precedence
Mathieu van der Poel’s dominant performance in Tabor has earned him his sixth cyclocross world championship title, leaving him just one shy of the record held by Erik De Vlaeminck. However, the 29-year-old superstar has admitted that his focus is increasingly shifting towards road racing, and this could be his last cyclocross campaign.
Van der Poel’s cyclocross victory was a testament to his skill and control, as he immediately surged to the front and rode away from the field, winning by a comfortable margin of 37 seconds. This capped off an almost flawless cyclocross season, with 13 wins in 14 races, his only defeat coming after a collision with a pole in the Benidorm World Cup.
“Apart from the world title and the fun, there is not much left for me to gain in cyclocross. My focus is increasingly shifting to the road,” he explained after the race.
The decision to step away from cyclocross, however, is not an easy one for Van der Poel. As the undisputed king of the discipline, his cyclocross success brings significant publicity and start fees to his Alpecin-Deceuninck team. Any final decision on his cyclocross future will involve discussions with the team and the various factors at play.
“It’s a decision that I obviously cannot make alone. But we will discuss it within the team,” Van der Poel said, acknowledging the complex nature of his future in the winter discipline. He also highlighted the toll that cyclocross takes on his energy, stating that if he can perform even better on the road by skipping the season, he will do so.
For now, Van der Poel’s attention will soon turn to the 2024 road racing season, but a final decision on his cyclocross future will take more time. “We will know more about my road programme in two weeks, but not yet about next winter,” he said, deferring any expectations.
While Van der Poel’s cyclocross dominance may be winding down, his immense talent and competitive spirit will undoubtedly continue to captivate cycling enthusiasts, both on the road and in the mud.
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