Mathieu van der Poel makes cyclocross history - "When I started cycling the dream was to become world champion one day in the elite category..."

Eight men's elite cyclocross world titles. Mathieu van der Poel has made cycling history this afternoon in Hulst, breaking the absolute record in the discipline and achieving a decade-long pursuit, whilst becoming perhaps the most successful rider cyclocross has ever seen.

Van der Poel's success in the discipline cannot be downplayed in any way. He has been world champion on the road and gravel before; but in cyclocross he has now won eight world titles: Tábor 2015; Bogense 2019; Dübendorf 2020; Oostende 2021; Hoogerheide 2023; Tábor 2024; Liévin 2025; and now finally Hulst 2026. He has beaten Erick de Vlaeminck's record which held since 1973, and has added a strong argument to being termed the best cyclocross rider in history.

"It's very special. Last week already, when I started cycling the dream was to become world champion one day in the elite category - and now, to having the most titles of all time... It's incredible," van der Poel said in a post-race interview. Within context, this victory didn't come as a surprise. Van der Poel has been unbeatable for dozens of races now in cyclocross, and he was his biggest rival today in the treacherous and slippery track in Hulst.

In the first lap Tibor del Grosso and Thibau Nys both looked very strong and at their best, but when the Alpecin - Premier Tech leader began attacking in the second lap of the race, it was simply unfeasible for anyone to follow him. As he's done throughout most of the winter, van der Poel rode most of the race at his own pace and with his own lines, taking a victory. But this was not just any victory, but the culmination of a career that is going to be remembered for ages.

Van der Poel crossed the line and did a familiar celebration, which he explained in the interview: "In Spain we do a lot of town sign sprints and a lot of different celebration, but the 'si' from Ronaldo is one of the most used so I thought it was the right time to pull one".

Despite his dominance, the Dutchman believes he was not at his very best level this afternoon. "It's always difficult to say. Maybe last weekend I felt a bit better, a bit stronger. But this course is completely different, and I really tried to manage my bike, my tires as good as possible to make sure a mechanical didn't ruin the party".

At the end of the day it is another day well achieved and another rainbow jersey to the collection. What follows is perhaps the question of whether he will continue racing in cyclocross. But for the time being, he gets to enjoy making history at age 31. "I did what I had to do, and I'm really happy that it all worked out".