Mathieu van der Poel explains Namen-Antwerp difference through deal with trainer

Two out of two, 100% score or whatever you want to call it: Mathieu van der Poel also managed to win his second cyclocross race of the 2025/2026 winter. The Dutchman faced opposition in Namen last week until the final lap, but restored order in Antwerp with a strong solo. IDLProCycling spoke to him.

Many fans drummed together in the port city to catch Van der Poel's now familiar entrance to the cross. Would he pull out the Lamborghini as ambassador of Lamborghini Antwerp? Or still the Mercedes van driven by father Adrie? None of that...

In fact, Van der Poel came... by bicycle, some twenty kilometers from home. 'But whether I get mileage allowance, I don't know. You'll have to ask," stated the well-humored world champion before his first meeting with Wout van Aert.

'It's nice that Wout is here again and it's a beautiful course, here in Antwerp.' Although Wout mainly saw the back wheel of the Alpecin-Deceuninck man, who took all the time he needed for the press after the race as the winner.

Mathieu, your story after this race?
'I rode away from them pretty fast and then I could mostly do my thing. With Tibor Del Grosso in the group behind, it was a good situation for us. Last week I made some mistakes in the wheel, so now I wanted to take more initiative. It was easier to ride up front on this course.'

Did you make any mistakes here?
'I wasn't really able to do the long sand strip perfectly and with that flat tire I lost time again, but the gap was big enough. I already felt a lot fresher than in Namen, so I think it's a coincidence that it went better now than in Namen.'

Does this say anything towards the coming weeks?
'I don't think so. Every race has yet to be run. That's wait and see.'

What goes through your mind when you're riding from the front by yourself for so long?
'You're somewhat preoccupied with your next cross anyway. I ride three really nice crosses in a row and I was actually looking forward to them since I had put my calendar together. Koksijde is one of my favorites and Hofstade is a cross that I've never ridden, but I used to go there a lot. It would be nice to win there myself for once.'

Three days in a row, is that intentional?
'Not really. It's just three very nice races.'

Last week there was a lot of people, now there is talk of 14,000 people in Antwerp. Does that still do anything for you?
'It is also to Wout's credit, who also takes extra people with him. During the Christmas period it's always very much alive and it's still nice to see that here among the people.'

What was it like riding against Wout?
(laughs) 'I've done that often enough, so that's not so special anymore.'

'Do you know how much?
'I saw it go by. I saw 200 pass by somewhere, so it will be around that rate. It's been since the juniors or actually before that. That's kind of funny, but actually it's the same with Laurens Sweeck.'

What are your conclusions after two crosses, one of which you had to ride to the last lap and now you can ride away on the first lap?
'Names has been added, but in terms of approach we haven't changed. I felt I hadn't had the ideal preparation and I was a lot fresher this week. The goal is still to get to my best form at the World Cup. How that should feel for the rest, I don't know. A bit like against Pogacar on the road, surely? You have to keep believing in it anyway.'

You yourself spoke at one of your first crosses last year that you had already trained to ride against Pogacar in the spring. Is it the same now?
'Not so much. Namen was a week early, so there was no point in resting for a week and my trainer didn't like that either. He did agree to Namur, but I had to keep doing my workouts.'

You are peaking more towards the World Cup now, does that have anything to do with the spring?
'That is also because of the circumstances. Last year I went into my rest period after the World Championships Gravel and that was a little different now with the World Championships mountain biking, which was in a bad way anyway. Those things do matter.'