“No one gets close to Mathieu – What he does is inhuman”: Joris Nieuwenhuis admits cyclocross regulars have little chance against all-conquering Van der Poel
Cyclocross
Joris Nieuwenhuis has given a stark assessment of the challenge facing the men’s cyclocross field this winter, stating on the Live Slow Ride Fast podcast that only a rare off-day brings Mathieu van der Poel within reach.
“I think Thibau Nys can show something in the races that suit him perfectly or on truly exceptional days,” Nieuwenhuis said. “But to be able to go with Mathieu? Then Mathieu simply has to have a bad day. No one gets close to Mathieu when he’s having a very good day. What he does then is genuinely inhuman.”
Nieuwenhuis’ comments arrive during a winter in which interest around the discipline has intensified, with strong early-season performances from several riders. His focus on Van der Poel’s level places the spotlight back on the reigning world champion’s return to the sport.
Niels Albert has recently described Nys as “the only one who can really hurt” Van der Poel and Wout van Aert when they rejoin the field. Nieuwenhuis approached the broader discussion by keeping attention fixed on the standard required to challenge Van der Poel.
Van der Poel and Van Aert remain central figures
Away from the competitive question, Nieuwenhuis also addressed the presence of the discipline’s biggest names.
“I hope Mathieu and Wout keep racing cyclocross for as long as possible,” he said. “They just give the discipline extra shine. It would be a shame if they disappear.”
The picture heading into the heart of the winter
With anticipation building around the first races of the season for the likes of Van der Poel and Van Aert, Nieuwenhuis’ contribution centres the conversation on the scale of the task facing anyone lining up next to the world champion.
His remarks underline the standards set by Van der Poel and the context in which the rest of the field prepares for the peak block of racing ahead.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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