“I don’t need to go full gas from the start” – Mathieu van der Poel saves energy and continues cyclocross dominance in Koksijde
Cyclocross
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.
Control before commitment
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.”
Sand, timing, and confidence
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.
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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