Mathieu van der Poel's 2025/26 cyclocross calendar confirmed: Culminates in bid for record-breaking 8th World Championship title in Hulst

Mathieu van der Poel has finalised a provisional cyclocross programme for the 2025/26 winter, with his campaign set to build towards a bid for an unprecedented eighth World Championship title in Hulst, something that would see the Alpecin-Deceuninck superstar overtake the legendary Eric de Vlaeminck as the most successful cyclocross rider in the history of the sport.

The Dutch world champion, who has dominated whenever he's raced cyclocross over the last few years, plans to make his return to the discipline in mid-December, targeting a compact block of races across Belgium and the Netherlands before turning his attention to the rainbow jersey defence.

Van der Poel’s first scheduled appearance is in Namen, subject to confirmation as he monitors his condition ahead of 14 December. From there, he is set to take on several major fixtures, including Antwerpen, Koksijde, Loenhout and Baal.

His programme features a familiar mix of classics, sand courses and technical circuits, with events such as Zonhoven and Hoogerheide also included. Participation in Benidorm remains to be confirmed as it depends on how his preparations align with his road ambitions.

The current list of cyclocross appearances is as follows:

The Worlds in Hulst form the anchor point of Van der Poel’s winter, concluding a schedule that blends race rhythm, course variety and manageable volume. Should he start there as planned, it will give him the opportunity to chase an eighth elite men’s cyclocross world title on Dutch soil.

His calendar, while concise, aligns with the approach he has taken in recent seasons — a focused set of appearances, clear priority events and a defined build-up towards the rainbow jersey.