Mathieu van der Poel happy with 2024 season: "World titles in the cyclocross and gravel and with victories in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in the rainbow jersey"

Mathieu van der Poel has been awarded the title of Dutch cyclist of the year yesterday after the end of the season, and has looked back at a year that has given much to his palmarès. Despite the star of the year being without a doubt Tadej Pogacar, the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider can still be happy with what he's achieved.

“Good evening everyone, I feel honoured to win the title of Cyclist of the Year for the fourth time in my career," van der Poel said in a video shared at the show last night upon the reveal of his victory. "I understand that it was a neck-and-neck race with Harrie Lavreysen, but that it just went my way. I want to emphasize that I have great respect for Harrie. Anyone who wins gold three times at the [Olympic] Games would definitely not have been out of place here with this Trophy".

However the road and cyclocross specialist was crowned as the country's star, over track expert Lavreysen who recently also won at the Track World Championships. Van der Poel bookended the year with victories at the cyclocross and gravel World Championships, both off-road disciplines where he excels. On the road his extreme classics success was perhaps overshadowed by that of Tadej Pogacar's throughout the rest of the year... But in the spring he did ride to solo victories at the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix - dominant victories at that, aditionally defending his title in the latter.

"Of course, I can also look back on a fantastic 2024, with world titles in the cyclocross and gravel and with victories in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in the rainbow jersey. Achievements that I am proud of," he admits.

"Unfortunately, I cannot be there in Utrecht, but I sincerely hope that you will have a great evening there. Finally, I would like to thank everyone who voted for me in recent weeks. I am already looking forward to showing my best side again in 2025 and doing this title full justice.”