03/02/2023

World Championships can turn Mathieu van der Poel's winter around: "If you win the World Championships, none of that matters anymore"

The World Championships are here. This Friday the worlds began with the Mixed Relay event, however on Mathieu van der Poel's mind only the men's elite road race will be in mind, as was the case throughout the whole winter.

“The Christmas period was good in terms of results, but even there I expected a little more. I didn't reach the level I had in mind. But if you win the World Championships, none of that matters anymore;" van der Poel said in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad. "It is still a World Championship. But not like before. Although it will be special, even more so because it is in Hoogerheide.”

Startlist Cyclocross World Championships Hoogerheide 2023 - Women/Men Elite, Women/Men Under-23, Women/Men Junior, Mixed Relay

The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider is eyeing the rainbow jersey and has based his winter around Hoogerheide. He's started his season in early December, overcame back issues over the final days of the Christmas period, has trained in Spain ahead of the final World Cup race in Besançon, and all the preparation is complete now.

“That is why I have also tried to organize my winter a little differently. I notice that I no longer want to be top all year round, but want to work more in periods," he continues. "I don't have the feeling that we are riding around much faster than a few years ago. But if you see the differences with the rest, you would think so. Well, I can't explain it myself."

Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert | "If you've been each other's competitors for so long, you'll never be best friends

Van der Poel has at times struggled with the level of Wout van Aert, but in the faster tracks, as is the case with Hoogerheide, it should be a very well balanced fight. He comfortably won in Besançon last week, whilst the duo's last battle in Benidorm also saw van der Poel take a very tight win at the sprint. Although it is arguable, some believe that the fact that his father Adrie is a course organizer this weekend could favour him.

“We haven't talked about it yet. Since I've been gone, we don't talk about things like that very often anymore. But I think it's great for him that he can organize another World Championships. He likes to do that and it's still a tribute to him. Many crosses can take an example from the way he does it." van der Poel concluded.