“That impending fatherhood is a moment he needs to, and also wants to, reflect on" - Mathieu van der Poel's career focus reaching crossroads?
CyclingTuesday, 29 September 2026 at 10:25
Mathieu van der Poel finds himself at a crossroads ahead of the winter period and the fast approaching Cyclo-cross season. The Dutch rider, synonymous with the fast and furious mud-filled discipline, could well sit on the sidelines this winter for a much more important cause.
The Alpecin rider his girlfriend, Roxanne Bertels, announced over the summer that they were expecting their first child, with the baby expected in January. And after a monster World Championships ride, he drew down the curtain on his road season with a bronze medal in Montreal.
With no plans confirmed for a potential stint in cyclo-cross over winter, and with the World Championships coming the following month after his child's expected arrival, his brother believes that fatherhood will see him reflect on his cycling priorities - pointing to the responsibilities and demands of the sport.
“That impending fatherhood is a moment he needs to, and also wants to, reflect on,” David van der Poel told Het Nieuwsblad.
“Not because he doesn’t enjoy riding those races anymore, but because of everything involved. It goes beyond an hour of racing. He spends a whole day on it every time, and has to give interviews repeatedlly. That requires a lot of mental focus and energy. He would like to be left alone for a winter.”
Mathieu van der Poel takes bronze at the 2026 World Championship road race in Montreal
Van der Poel will rest before decision is made
While his father Adrie van der Poel also couldn't confirm if his son would return to cyclo-cross earlier in the year, David confirmed that after a period of rest, the team, Mathieu and sponsors will have their say on what's next.
“I don’t know if it is necessarily better preparation without cyclocross. In recent seasons, one has never gotten in the way of the other.
“Mathieu is now heading into a period of rest first and will only sit down with the team afterwards to discuss what is best. The sponsors will also have a say in that,” David added.
A commanding performance in Montreal saw him dictate the early phase of the finale, attacking the favourites over two hours before the finish. Despite Brandon McNulty's gold medal in an opportunist attack, van der Poel appeared one of the strongest riders in the race despite competing against climbers on more difficult terrain.
Did van der Poel race too hard?
"He really just set the race on fire. I think he completely destroyed the Belgians," says former rider Michael Boogerd in the NOS Cycling Podcast.
"Perhaps Van der Poel did too much, but I don’t think the outcome would have been different if he hadn’t attacked."
He added: "I thought for a moment that he had bad legs, because it was extremely early, especially at a World Championship. He wanted to get ahead of the trouble, but he actually causes the trouble himself. He really pushed the other riders to the limit."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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