"There is only one word for Mathieu: phenomenal" - Former CX world champion showers praise onto Mathieu van der Poel

Despite the late addition of Wout van Aert to the mix, there was no drama at the 2025 Cyclocross World Championships as Mathieu van der Poel stormed to a record equalling 7th Rainbow Jersey win on Sunday afternoon in Lievin. Understandably, former world champion Bart Wellens has been left incredibly impressed by the Dutchman's performance.

"In terms of excitement, this was not the World Championship we had hoped for," Wellens readily admits in his column for Het Nieuwsblad. "But you could already tell from the previous categories: the decision would fall quickly. Mathieu was simply the best, the deserved world champion. There is only one word for what Mathieu performs: phenomenal."

Despite Van der Poel making things look easy, and now having won 24 of his last 25 cyclocross races in a run stretching back to the 2022/23 season, Wellens insists it shouldn't be taken for granted just how good the Dutch, Alpecin-Deceuninck superstar really is. "It all seems obvious but it is not. And that absolute record, an eighth world title, is undoubtedly the motivation for him to stay in the cross for a while longer," Wellens concludes. "And soon he will just go to the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix to win. At the time, we were already full of admiration for Sven Nys, who once focused on Paris-Roubaix and finished 46th or so. Mathieu can win everything."

Read also

"I also think I wasn't much slower than him" - Wout van Aert rues nightmare start after losing out to Mathieu van der Poel at CX World Championships

“That was for Mathieu van der Poel" - Joris Nieuwenhuis crosses the line applauding, despite missing out on CX World Championship podium

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