“He has built such a big engine... who is going to beat Mathieu van der Poel?” – Dutch ex-pro expects winter dominance to carry into Spring Classics
Cycling
The most striking takeaway from Mathieu van der Poel’s cyclocross winter is not simply the results, but the trajectory. What began as a campaign won on control and experience has evolved into something far more decisive.
According to a Dutch former professional, the version now on display is not only primed for another world title in the mud, but already looks ready to impose himself on the road within weeks.
Speaking on the Live Slow Ride Fast, Laurens ten Dam described a clear shift in how Van der Poel has dominated as the winter progressed. Early victories came through know-how and race sense. Now, the margins have grown.
“We saw him in Namur. He won there as well, but purely on routine and knowing how to finish a race. Now he can do whatever he wants,” Ten Dam said. Even when misfortune strikes, the outcome no longer changes. Van der Poel is winning races despite punctures and disruption, a theme repeated in recent World Cup rounds.
From control to separation
That evolution has been most obvious in how races are decided. Ten Dam pointed to the way Van der Poel now creates gaps that simply cannot be closed. “When you see him going through those corners, he goes through them so fast. Once he has a few seconds, you are not going to close that gap anymore.”
It is a familiar picture from the last month of racing. Rivals can follow for a time, sometimes even survive an early acceleration, but once Van der Poel has daylight, the race is effectively over. The difference is no longer tactical. It is physical.
Ten Dam believes that change has been deliberate. “He was not super at the beginning, but he still won. He rode those little climbs on his base fitness, but that real sharpness and being 25 seconds faster per lap than the rest was not there yet.”,
A motor built for multiple peaks
What has impressed Ten Dam most is how controlled that build has been. “He has built such a big engine. With three or four specific training sessions, he can create a peak,” he explained. Just as importantly, that peak can be flattened and rebuilt again. “With some longer training sessions, he can let it drop again. With a few interval sessions towards Omloop, for example, he can then create another peak.”
That ability to time form has obvious implications beyond cyclocross. Van der Poel has previously hinted that he could start Omloop Het Nieuwsblad for the first time, although no final decision has been announced. Ten Dam was unequivocal about what that would mean. “If you see him riding, who is going to beat him there?”
Effort behind the ease
For all the apparent effortlessness, Ten Dam was careful to underline that this level does not come for free. Van der Poel may make dominance look simple, but it is built on sustained work. His success, Ten Dam stressed, is not only about talent, but about the volume and precision of the training that underpins it.
Taken together, the picture is a familiar but still unsettling one for his rivals. Van der Poel arrives at the end of the cyclocross winter not just winning, but accelerating. And if Ten Dam is right, the momentum does not stop when the barriers come down.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
claps 4visitors 4
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- It would be great if the World Champion's jersey could be rotated among McNulty, Simmons, and Jorgenson. They threaded the needle perfectly. If each hadn't done exactly what he did, exactly when he did it, the race would have gone to one of the more heralded superstars. That said, how nice that this humble and hardworking guy gets his moment in the sun.
MarkFour07-11-2026 - This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment