“I didn’t expect to win like this” – Mathieu van der Poel stunned by his own dominance in Benidorm
Cyclocross
After a dramatic U-turn decision to race, after initially opting to skip, Mathieu van der Poel did not come to Benidorm expecting to turn the World Cup into a solo exhibition. That only became clear to him after he had already committed.
“I didn’t expect to win like this,” the world champion reflected in his post-race interview afterwards. “I thought it would be decided again in the last lap, although the conditions were different.”
What changed everything was the opening lap. Tibor del Grosso rode strongly from the gun, and that was enough to trigger Van der Poel’s instinct.
“Tibor rode a good first lap and then I decided to go for it,” he explained. “I tried to ride two laps very hard, hoping the others would start looking at each other. And I think that’s what happened.”
The moment Benidorm was decided
That early gamble defined the entire race. One acceleration on the rising finish straight was enough to break the field. From that point, Van der Poel rode alone, extending his lead steadily and turning the World Cup into a controlled solo.
Behind him, the race reshuffled repeatedly as riders tried to organise a chase. Thibau Nys and Felipe Orts eventually separated themselves to fight for second, with Nys finally riding away from Orts on the final lap. But the fight for the podium never threatened the outcome at the front.
By the time Van der Poel reached the final lap, he was nearly 50 seconds clear. There was no need to manage rivals, only himself. He crossed the line on one wheel, a gesture that matched how untroubled the race had become.
Benidorm was not decided by patience or waiting. It was decided by one early decision, two brutal laps, and a rider who trusted that the rest would hesitate just long enough.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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