“I don’t need to go full gas from the start” – Mathieu van der Poel saves energy and continues cyclocross dominance in Koksijde

Mathieu van der Poel’s latest victory at the Cyclocross World Cup in Koksijde was emphatic, but it was also calculated.

The world champion rode clear after around 25 minutes on the iconic sand circuit before soloing to another comfortable win, yet his post race reaction made clear this was not about emptying the tank from the first lap.

“I don’t need to go full gas from start to finish in every cross either, especially with the sequence of races coming up,” Van der Poel said in an interview with Sporza.

Koksijde has long been a favourite venue for Van der Poel, and racing in the rainbow jersey only added to the satisfaction.

“I certainly enjoyed it. It’s one of my favourite races on the cyclocross calendar and now it’s even more so,” he said. “These are days to cherish.”

Unlike his aggressive early move in Antwerp, Van der Poel waited longer before delivering the decisive acceleration. It was a conscious choice on a circuit that rewards precision and timing as much as brute force.

“You also have to think about everything that’s still to come,” he explained. “On a circuit like today’s, it’s a bit easier to make the difference, especially if you have a few good sand sections.”

While Koksijde remains synonymous with deep sand, Van der Poel pointed out that the course demanded adaptation rather than repetition.

“As I said beforehand, the sand sections were also different today,” he said. “I’m happy with my sand technique.”

By holding something in reserve and striking decisively when it mattered, Van der Poel reinforced a familiar pattern this winter. He is not just winning races, but managing them, balancing dominance with restraint as the cyclocross calendar continues to stack up.

Another victory in the books, and another reminder that Van der Poel is racing with both legs and head firmly in sync.