Will he or won’t he? Mathieu van der Poel’s Benidorm decision dominates Dutch World Cup selection

The Dutch elite squad for the Cyclocross World Cup in Benidorm is set, but the biggest name on the list still comes with an asterisk.

Mathieu van der Poel is provisionally included in the Dutch selection for this weekend’s race in Spain, yet his actual participation remains undecided. With the entry deadline closing before his final call is made, the Netherlands have chosen to list him anyway.

National coach Gerben de Knegt outlined the situation in the Dutch team's press release. “Mathieu decides later this week whether he actually races,” he said. “The official entry for this World Cup closes this afternoon. If you are not on it, later entry is no longer possible. That is why we decided, in consultation, to handle it this way.”

That leaves Benidorm balanced between two versions of the same race. If Van der Poel starts, he becomes the reference point. If he does not, the Dutch men carry the responsibility without their biggest name.

Benidorm has quickly become a rider favourite, helped by its winter timing and Spanish location. De Knegt said the turnout reflects that. “The turnout for the World Cup in Benidorm is really good for such a ‘far’ race. You see that many riders are already nearby because they choose to train there at this time of year, and then a race like this is of course ideal to include.”

The course itself is unusual for cyclocross, built around long gravel paths in a city park. De Knegt warned that it brings both spectacle and danger. “The gravel increases the risk of crashes, so you sometimes see riders becoming a bit more cautious with the World Championships in mind,” he said. “In a race like this, positioning well from the start and staying sharp the whole race is even more important than usual. Always watching what happens in the group and whether you can still respond. That makes Benidorm a really good race to watch.”

The Dutch elite men selected are:

Whether this becomes a Van der Poel race or a wide-open contest will only be known once he makes his call.

Puck Pieterse is not part of the Benidorm plan. She crashed hard at the recent Dutch National Championships, however, it is noted that this race was never on her calendar, and she is focusing on training in Spain instead.

The Dutch elite women selected are:

Brand, Alvarado and Van Anrooij give the team leadership, while the course profile suits riders who can stay sharp in fast, tactical racing.

For now, the Dutch selection points in one direction only. Everything in Benidorm starts with a single question. Does Van der Poel turn up, or not?