"I’m getting close to doing something historical" - Mathieu van der Poel confirms he'll go for record equalling 7th cyclocross world title in 2025

Six times Mathieu van der Poel has stood atop the cyclocross world, including in both 2023 and 2024. Only Erik De Vlaeminck can claim to have more with seven, but they may not be for much longer.

In an extensive interview with Rob Hatch for Eurosport, van der Poel discusses a variety of topics. One of the things discussed is the Dutchman's cyclocross career and the allure of returning for another winter, in order to make record-equalling history with a seventh World Championship victory.

“I have goals but I’ve not changed this,” the Alpecin-Deceuninck star says, confirming his intentions to return to cyclocross this winter. “I try to be the best version of myself every year and hopefully, the rest comes. I’m getting close to doing something historical and you get remembered by those kinds of things, so it will be a goal next year to try and break the record. It’s my first passion.”

Whether or not he'll have competition from Wout van Aert next year however, remains to be seen. Although the pair have been great rivals over the years, van der Poel shares an immense amount of respect for his ultimate opponent. “I’m mainly concerned with myself, but to win you have to cause the rivals to lose. It keeps me on my edge. The better they are the better I have to be, and I think that's what comes in sports. With Wout van Aert, of course, everyone knows the history we have," van der Poel says.

On the road however, van Aert is no longer the only rival to van der Poel. Especially in the one-day races and the Classics. "Now, Tadej Pogacar comes to do some classic races as well sometimes, and he’s also good at that," the Dutchman says with a smile. "It’s good for me, keeps me on my edge.”

But what of this year? What are van der Poel's goals and targets for the remainder of 2024? “The classics are a big goal again," he concludes determinedly. "For me, I have the same races as I did last year, and in the summer... It’s quite difficult with the Olympics, but I still aim to compete in the mountain bikes and road.”