"I feel less and less like a cyclocross rider...": Under-23 cyclocross world champion prepares for a road career

It would be a stretch to call Aaron Dockx's world title a 'complete upset', however it's the 21-year-old Belgian from Alpecin - Premier Tech definitely wasn't among the most anticipated names heading into Saturday's under-23 race. After all, Dockx has been hardly a stand-out name during the current winter with only a single podium result in Benidorm (in under-23 category).

However in Hulst, the young Belgian who will make a WorldTour debut later this year, ignored all the predictions and made a swift work of his rivals, including French talent Aubin Sparfel and Dutchman Keije Solen who completed the podium.

"I actually went into this World Championship with an open mind. I haven't done much cyclocross this year and only managed a podium finish in Benidorm, so it's fantastic to be able to finish it off here. The World Championship was a goal, though; it was a bit all-or-nothing because it was my last as an U23," said the newly crowned world champion speaking to WielerFlits.

"I only started to believe in it a bit on the penultimate lap, when I was ten to fifteen seconds ahead. I did feel like I was stagnating a bit and the rest would close the gap, but then Sparfel made a mistake and I went from nine to fourteen seconds back again."

Dockx therefore completed a hat-trick for Alpecin after two previous victories by his year-older teammate Tibor del Grosso. But while the Dutchman swiftly transitioned into a star in elite category with medal ambitions on Sunday, Dockx feels that his career will steer more towards road than cyclocross:

"I've switched to the WorldTour, so my focus is shifting more and more to the road. I'm actually feeling less and less like a cyclocross rider," he says.

The Belgian will now take it easy for a week, and then work towards Paris-Nice - his WorldTour debut. Is he nervous about that? "Yes, definitely. You have to perform in the WorldTour too," he smiles.