"You don’t lose sleep over whether the World Championships went well or badly" - Will fatherhood surpass Mathieu van der Poel's Cyclocross goals?
Cyclocross
Mathieu van der Poel's Cyclocross season remains the source of much speculation after his brother and agent infered that the Alpecin - Premier Tech rider could sit out the mud-filled season as he becomes a father over winter.
The Dutch rider and his girlfriend, Roxanne Bertels, announced over the summer that they were expecting their first child. Bertels' due date is at the end of the cyclocross season.
While some analysts and riders have stated that they believe the Dutchman could yet ride some races and attempt to defend his Cyclocross World Championships title, former rider Paul Herygers believes that race results mean less when it comes to family matters.
“Hasn’t that become the question of the last ten years?,” Herygers said in an interview with Het Nieuwblad.
“It’s a mixed bag, of course. He really loves cyclocross, but he doesn’t want the stress. And in terms of results, he’s reached a point where he can only lose. No doubt he’ll start getting the itch to race again soon. And then the question is whether he’ll give in to it or not. He’s also going to be a dad in January...”
Mathieu van der Poel
"I’d understand if Van der Poel decided to sit out a year"
A father himself, Herygers certainly understands van der Poel's predicament and offered his opinion: that missing out on racing doesn't quite stack up like being there to welcome your child to the world.
"My oldest daughter, Lily, was born in January 2009, right after the busy Christmas season and just before the World Championships. I remember that as a very special moment.
"You really do feel like you’re walking on air for weeks. But at the same time, cyclocross suddenly seems very relative. When you see that little bundle lying there, you don’t lose sleep over whether the World Championships went well or badly."
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Former rider thinks van der Poel won't want to lose rainbow jersey
He added: "So in a way, I’d understand if Van der Poel decided to sit out a year. Although that would, of course, be a real shame for cyclocross.”
Eli Iserbyt, who retired this year after several years among the top cyclocross riders in the world, believes that the Dutchman won't want to see any rider take his rainbow jersey. Speaking on Pickx Sport's Derailleur podcast, Iserbyt offered a different perspective on the prospect of Van der Poel stepping away while still dominating the discipline.
"If I were Mathieu, I couldn't stand seeing someone else become world champion knowing I could have raced myself at that moment," said the former European cyclocross champion. "Unless, of course, your wife gives birth the day or week before."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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