The numbers don't lie: Mathieu van der Poel smashes Wout van Aert in the biggest rivalry in cyclocross history

The world of cyclocross has witnessed a legendary rivalry between two prodigies: Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. Since their first meeting on the track on October 2, 2011, aged just 16 and 17 respectively, they have participated in 180 races together, marking an era in the sport.

The numbers paint a fascinating picture of this intense rivalry. Of those 180 races, Mathieu has beaten Wout 120 times, while Wout has triumphed in 60. These two cyclocross titans have dominated overwhelmingly, leaving only 12 races where a third rider has prevailed. In fact, when both participate, it is a rarity for another rider to take the win.

The last time a rider other than this time-honored duo managed to win was on November 1, 2018, when Toon Aerts made an indelible mark by prevailing over these giants.

The consistency and intensity of this rivalry has captivated cyclocross fans around the world. Each encounter between van der Poel and van Aert is an epic duel, where skill, strategy and endurance are intertwined in a battle for supremacy.

This almost absolute domination of van der Poel and van Aert in cyclocross has turned every competition into a duel between titans, where victory for either rider becomes an exceptional feat. And on the other hand, the numbers are in favor of the Dutchman, who has beaten his Belgian rival twice as many times, making it clear who is the true GOAT of the specialty.