Mathieu van der Poel is a five-time cyclocross World Champion and the main favourite to take the rainbow bands this week in Tabor. It was in the Czech Republic that he first won the Worlds in the discipline, and he admits that it may also be the site of his last.
"Especially for the peace and quiet. I'll have to take a look at that. I became world champion the first time in Tabor and maybe again next week. That would be nice, but I haven't made a decision yet. If I like doing it, I'll keep doing it. Above all, it must be meaningful," van der Poel told Wielerflits.
Two seasons ago the Dutchman abandoned his plans of racing in the winter shortly after starting, due to ongoing back issues. He has since fixed them and went on to have his most successful season ever in 2023, winning the worlds in cyclocross and the road, Milano-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix. He is now the prime candidate to win the worlds in tabor after winning most of his races throughout the winter, but this does not mean that he will continue to do so throughout the next few years.
“It has also crossed my mind this year, but I have still decided to continue racing. It's going to happen at some point that I won't do it anymore," he shares. "Last year I had shit happen to me after quite a bit of racing and I don't think it's worth it. You should not underestimate such a day of cross. The audience and everything that comes with it. That hour of cross itself may cost the least energy. From the moment you arrive, you have to go through the public and that never stops on such a day.”
Van der Poel has become an established rider on the road and has lots of ambitions, alongside this being an Olympic year, where he will pursue Mountain Biking as well. Van der Poel admits that after so many years and success in the discipline, he may announce suddenly not to race on a winter - as he suggested a few times in recent months. This would prevent him from reaching Erik De Vlaeminck's seven rainbow jerseys. “I'm not concerned with that," van der Poel admits.
"Maybe someday. It could also be two years without cross and then start again. It is very difficult, even today. But it's not the training you need in the spring. Then you might benefit from long endurance training instead of riding for an hour around your turning point like now. I mainly ride because I enjoy it. That's enough, but I can also see myself."
