ANALYSIS | Six World Championship titles already, but can Mathieu van der Poel match the record this winter?

The long-awaited announcement finally arrived this week: Mathieu van der Poel, the reigning Cyclocross World Champion, has revealed his 2024-2025 winter calendar. After months of anticipation, fans will soon see the Dutch superstar back in action, starting on 22nd December at the Zonhoven World Cup, where he’ll be back in yet another rainbow jersey. This season is special for Van der Poel, as he sets his sights on a record-equalling seventh world title, an achievement that would place him alongside Belgium’s Erik de Vlaeminck as one of cyclocross’ all-time greats. But will 2025 be the year he draws level with the statistical best ever?

Van der Poel is of course no stranger to rewriting history. With six cyclocross world titles to his name already, alongside one road world championship and one gravel world championship, his career is already one of the greatest in terms of all round achievements Whether it’s on the road, cobbles, gravel, or the mud of cyclocross, van der Poel is one of the best we’ve ever seen.

However, while his road and gravel exploits are superb, it is in cyclocross where Van der Poel’s legacy truly shines. This season offers another chapter in his career so far, with the added incentive of history being on the line.

This packed schedule includes races where Van der Poel will clash with his arch rival Wout van Aert at Mol, Loenhout, Dendermonde, and Maasmechelen. However, van Aert’s absence from the World Championships in Liévin, where Van der Poel will chase his seventh title, leaves the Dutchman as the clear favourite.

To fully appreciate the significance of Van der Poel’s pursuit of his seventh title, we must revisit the remarkable career of Erik de Vlaeminck, the Belgian legend whose record of seven world titles has stood unchallenged for over five decades.

Born in Eeklo, Belgium, de Vlaeminck dominated cyclocross from 1966 to 1973, winning an unparalleled seven world titles. He only missed out in 1967, when a damaged bike ended his race prematurely. Known for his supreme bike handling, de Vlaeminck was a pioneer in the sport, and his cyclocross achievements are made even more impressive by the fact his equipment was far worse than what the riders today use.

Like Van der Poel, De Vlaeminck’s career wasn’t limited to cyclocross. On the road, he achieved notable victories, including a Tour de France stage win in 1968 and overall victory at the 1969 Tour of Belgium. However, his greatest legacy remains in cyclocross, where for over half a century his dominance has been unmatched, will that change in 2025?

Sadly, de Vlaeminck faced personal struggles off the bike, as he battled an amphetamine addiction, which led to a temporary hiatus from the sport. De Vlaeminck passed away back in 2015 at the age of 70, after battling Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

Van der Poel’s cyclocross career already places him among the sport’s greatest. With six world titles (2015, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024) and 38 World Cup victories, he has been the dominant force of the 21st century. While his road achievements, including multiple victories at the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, have added to his legend, it’s in cyclocross where Van der Poel has truly been the king.

The last time he was actually beaten in the World Championships was in 2018, when Wout van Aert took the gold. Since then, Van der Poel has been nearly unbeatable on the biggest stage, only missing out in 2022 when he was injured and Tom Pidcock temporarily took his rainbow jersey.

However, Van der Poel’s seventh cyclocross rainbow jersey is by no means guaranteed. Cyclocross is unpredictable, mechanical failures, crashes, and punctures can derail even the very best riders, and while Van der Poel is the clear favourite heading into the 2025 World Championships, the nature of the sport means nothing is guaranteed.

With Wout van Aert focusing on the spring classics, Van der Poel’s path to a seventh title seems clearer, but, the competition is far from lacking. But there are some dangers in the field who have already been racing this winter, so here are the key riders to watch:

The 22-year-old European Champion and son of cyclocross legend Sven Nys, Thibau is seen by some as the future of the sport, and his performance at the European championship at the start of November was particularly impressive. However, his performances this season have been inconsistent, including a 12th place finish in Antwerp and a DNF in Dublin in the World Cup. If he really wants to prove he can even compete with Van der Poel, he’s going to have to up his game, and fast.

A consistent performer, Iserbyt has had a controversial season so far, but he has been a podium regular in recent years. He finished third in the World Championships in 2022 and 2023 and won the Antwerp World Cup this season, and if Van der Poel falters, Iserbyt could seize the opportunity.

Vanthourenhout’s strong start to the season includes a win in Dublin and a third-place finish in Antwerp. Having secured third place in last year’s World Championships, he has regularly been able to produce his best form on the biggest stage.

While these riders have the potential to challenge, Van der Poel remains in a league of his own. If he is on his A game, the others will likely be left in the dust to fight for second place.

Van der Poel’s achievements have redefined what it means to be a modern cyclist. His dominance in cyclocross, coupled with his success on the road and gravel, makes him one of the most versatile riders in history. The only rainbow jersey missing from his collection is on a mountain bike, something he has said he may target in 2025 as the world championship road race may feature too much elevation for his attributes.

And despite Van der Poel’s busy cyclocross schedule over the next two months, you can be sure he’ll be ready to light up the cobbles by the time the Flemmish classics roll around next spring.

So there you have it, Mathieu van der Poel’s 2024-2025 cyclocross season offers the chance to cement his place in history. Matching Erik de Vlaeminck’s record of seven world titles would be a monumental achievement, but the road to Liévin is full of challenges, and another rainbow jersey shouldn’t be place upon him just yet.

Can he equal the record and secure his legacy as the greatest cyclocross rider of all time? The answer lies in the mud and the sand, and over the next two months of supreme racing on cyclocross bikes.