“I never thought I would stand here”: Mathieu van der Poel goes level with the legendary Sven Nys after most dramatic test of the winter ends in 50th World Cup win

Mathieu van der Poel’s victory in Maasmechelen will be remembered not just for what it secured, but for how it was achieved.

In a race defined by punctures, pressure and repeated swings of momentum, the world champion claimed his 50th World Cup cyclocross win, drawing level with Sven Nys after the most turbulent outing of his unbeaten winter.

“Very nice,” Mathieu van der Poel smiled in his post-race interview afterwards. “When I started racing cyclocross, I looked up to Sven. I never thought I would be able to stand here.”

Reaching that number places Van der Poel alongside Sven Nys, the rider who defined an era of the discipline and whose World Cup record long appeared untouchable. That Van der Poel matched it in a race where his dominance was repeatedly threatened only sharpened the significance of the moment.

Unlike many of his victories this winter, Maasmechelen offered Van der Poel little control. Two punctures, both striking just after the material zone, forced him into long chases and stripped away the margin he has so often enjoyed in recent months.

“And both times just after the pit area,” he explained. “It cost me a lot of energy, but fortunately, I was able to put things right again.”

Rather than panic, Van der Poel opted for restraint. Conscious of the risks on a demanding course, he resisted the temptation to force his way back too aggressively. “I tried to close the gap at my own pace,” he said. “I wanted to be careful not to puncture again.”

That approach proved decisive. While the race behind him unravelled through mistakes and crashes, Van der Poel rebuilt his position methodically, eventually regaining the front before surviving another late scare to seal the win.

“It didn’t come without a fight today,” he admitted. “But I’m happy with how it felt.”

The relief was clear as he crossed the line. This was not a victory built on inevitability, but on composure under sustained pressure. In reaching 50 World Cup wins on a day when his unbeaten winter came closest to collapse, Van der Poel underlined why he now stands alongside the greatest name in cyclocross history, and why even his hardest days continue to end the same way.