ANALYSIS | What have we learned from the 2024/2025 cyclocross season: Is Mathieu van der Poel the GOAT, and is Belgian cyclocross in trouble?

As the dust settles on the 2025 Cyclocross World Championships in Liévin, the defining narratives of this season have taken shape. While a few races remain in February, the major battles have been fought, and the standout stories are clear.

From the continued dominance of Mathieu van der Poel and Fem van Empel to the rise of young talents like Thibau Nys and Tibor Del Grosso, this season has offered plenty of drama, surprises, and moments of history. Let’s take a quick look back at what has been a wet, muddy, and supremely skilful past few months of racing.

At just 22 years old, Fem van Empel has already established herself as the undisputed queen of women’s cyclocross. Her thrilling victory in Liévin secured her third consecutive world title and this was perhaps the most impressive of the lot. Just the week before, van Empel had looked shaking in her World Cup outing leaving some experts believing she would be usurped in France. That was not to be.

Van Empel’s latest rainbow jersey came after an intense battle with Lucinda Brand, which required all of her skill and racing intelligence. Brand threw everything at her, but van Empel held firm, proving once again that she is the rider to beat. Three world titles before turning 23 is an extraordinary feat, and with her trajectory, it’s hard to see anyone stopping her in the coming years.

The Dutch star has proved to be unstoppable once again, winning almost everything she entered. Her technical skills, power, and ability to peak for the world championships have set her apart from the rest of the field in recent years. If this is still just the beginning of her reign, the rest of the peloton has a serious problem on their hands.

If there was ever any doubt that Thibau Nys was more than just “Sven Nys’ son,” this season erased it. The 22-year-old Belgian had a breakout campaign, winning both the Belgian and European Championships before capping it off with a bronze medal at the World Championships behind only the seemingly untouchable Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert.

Nys' progress has been rapid. His speed, bike handling, and growing tactical awareness have made him one of the most exciting young riders on the scene. While his father Sven remains one of the greatest cyclocross riders in history, Thibau is carving out his own path and proving that he has the potential to be a future world champion.

Aside from the bronze medal at the two titles he won this season, perhaps the best moment of Nys’ season came at the World Cup in Benidorm, where his last lap attack beat the great Wout van Aert fair and square.

His podium finish in Liévin was a sign that whilst he’s still got a large gap to overcome the big two, he’s certainly now the best of the rest. Holding his own against two legends of the sport is no small feat, and given his age, there’s every reason to believe that this is just the start. With Van der Poel and Van Aert unlikely to be around forever in cyclocross, Nys is positioning himself as the next big star.

Cyclocross in Belgium is in trouble, certainly on the women’s side of things. The numbers are staggering: when Sanne Cant won the world title in 2019, it was the last time a Belgian woman stood on the World Championship podium. Six years ago! Since then, the Netherlands have been the force to be reckoned with, sweeping the medals every year except 2022, when Silvia Persico of Italy managed to take third place. And 2025 was no different, where once again it was an all-orange podium.

For a country where cyclocross is almost a religion, this is a concerning trend. The men’s elite riders may still be competitive (competitive, that is, behind Mathieu van der Poel) but the women’s side has fallen significantly behind. The Dutch pipeline continues to produce world-class talent, while Belgium struggles to keep up.

Belgian cycling authorities have acknowledged the issue, with calls for better development programs and structural support for young female riders. But for now, the Netherlands' stranglehold on the women’s side of the sport looks set to continue.

Another young Dutch talent making waves is Tibor Del Grosso. The 21-year-old successfully defended his U23 World Championship title, proving that his first victory was no fluke. Earlier this season, he also won the Dutch national championship in the absence of Mathieu van der Poel, further underlining his credentials as a future elite-level contender. Del Grosso is a teammate of Van der Poel’s at Alpecin-Deceuninck, and he’ll be hoping to pick up a trick or two from the sport’s number one rider.

Del Grosso’s style is reminiscent of some of the very best; he’s fast, technically sound, and seemingly consistently sharp. He has handled the pressure of being a top young talent exceptionally well, and if his current trajectory continues, he will soon be challenging the best in the world.

With riders like Thibau Nys and Tibor Del Grosso emerging, the next generation of cyclocross looks incredibly bright.

Wout van Aert may not have won the cyclocross world title since 2018, but make no mistake, he is still one of the best in the business. Despite barely racing this season, he still picked up a win and finished second at the World Championships in Liévin, proving his class once again.

Van Aert’s ability to turn up with minimal preparation and still perform at an elite level is remarkable. But, and it’s a big but, the gap between him and Mathieu van der Poel has never been wider.

Two years ago, in 2023, the World Championship battle between the two came down to the final metres. In 2025, the difference was a staggering 45 seconds. Van der Poel was in complete control, while Van Aert could do nothing but watch.

Belgian cyclocross legend Bart Wellens summed it up best: “For him, it’s just s**t that in his generation, he’s come up against someone like Mathieu.”

Of course, there are a number of other variables we have not mentioned, as Van Aert is coming off an injury hit 2024, and is still finding his top gears. Still, Van Aert remains the clear second-best rider in the world, but whether he can close the gap to Van der Poel in future years remains to be seen. He’ll be hoping to pick up his first victory over his nemesis in quite some time during the spring classics.

There is no longer any debate in my mind: Mathieu van der Poel is the greatest cyclocross rider of all time.

His dominant victory in Liévin secured his seventh world title, equalling the record, and next year, in 2026, he will have the chance to stand alone at the top.

Van der Poel's latest triumph was vintage MVDP. He obliterated the field, dictating the race from the front and leaving no doubt about who the strongest rider was. He is redefining what is possible in cyclocross, blending raw power, technical mastery, and a hunger for victory that is showing no signs of letting up.

His world title win over the weekend was so impressive, everyone forgot to mention he’s still racing with a broken rib!

Van der Poel is no mere cyclocross rider either. He is also a world champion on the road and in gravel racing, proving that he is one of the most versatile riders in history. Joris Nieuwenhuis, who finished just off the podium in Liévin, was seen applauding Van der Poel as he crossed the finish line, a fitting tribute to a rider who continues to set new standards in the sport.

Van der Poel’s legacy is already secure, but the scary thing? He’s not done yet.

The 2024-25 cyclocross season has given us plenty to talk about. Mathieu van der Poel remains untouchable at the top, while Wout van Aert is still a long way clear of the rest but must fight to keep the Dutchman in sight. Fem van Empel is dominating the women’s scene, with no signs of slowing down, and Thibau Nys and Tibor Del Grosso are rising stars who could shape the future of the sport.

Belgium’s struggles in women’s cyclocross are a growing concern, while the Netherlands continue to churn out world-class riders at an alarming rate.

With another World Championships in the books, cyclocross has provided some superb entertainment once again whilst most of the road riders have been hibernating. And as we look ahead to 2026, all eyes will be on Mathieu van der Poel as he chases history. Can he break the all-time record and further cement his legacy? Only time will tell.