Belgium secured two medals in the
men’s elite race at the cyclocross world championships, but neither was the right
colour. Mathieu van der Poel dominated the race to claim a record-equalling
seventh title, with Wout van Aert finishing second and Thibau Nys taking third.
Belgium’s wait for an elite men’s world title continues, with their last
victory coming in 2018 when Van Aert triumphed.
Belgian coach Angelo De Clercq
spoke to Wielerflits about the race. Van der Poel immediately seized control
from the first lap, while Van Aert had to fight his way through the field after
starting from the fourth row. His race was further complicated when he
encountered difficulties in the first corner. "He was super far, he was
completely stuck in that corner. There were only four men behind him,"
said De Clercq. "I think that's a shame. This was probably the best he
could do, but I just think it's a shame that he didn't get into the race."
After just one lap, Van Aert
already trailed Van der Poel by 45 seconds. Though the Dutchman’s advantage
fluctuated slightly, the gap remained the same by the end of the eight-lap
race. Despite finishing well behind the world champion, Van Aert’s performance
remained impressive.
"I think Mathieu was
in control. He also had a flat tire. It's hard to say whether Wout is getting
closer or whether Mathieu is just in control. Mathieu accelerated at times and
then recovered. It's just a shame that there was no duel in the first two
laps."
Reflecting on Nys’ performance, De
Clercq was full of praise for the young Belgian. "I think Thibau has had a
fantastic season. He has become European and Belgian champion and now he is on
the World Cup podium with Mathieu and Wout. That is fantastic."
De Clercq was also satisfied with
Belgium’s overall results at the championships. "I had hoped for four
medals beforehand and we got four. We didn't have the top favorite anywhere,
while the favorite won in every category, because the course was so selective.
Is four medals too little for a cross-country like Belgium? I don't think so.
We are not the only countries that are involved in cyclo-cross. We also notice
that the French and Italians are strong in the youth category. The balance is
positive anyway."
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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