Mathieu van der Poel links second cyclo-cross win to the challenge awaiting him in spring

The world champion in cyclo-cross made the race in Mol in Belgium slightly more thrilling than his victory on Sunday in Zonhoven, as his early sand sections didn’t go as smoothly as he had hoped. "In the last three or four laps, the sand went well, but before that, it wasn’t great. A six out of ten, I'd say," Van der Poel told the press. "Laurens (Sweeck, ed.) got through the sand better than I did. In the beginning, I was really struggling, but in the final laps, I found my rhythm. Then I started riding through the sand the way I expect from myself. I got more into my flow and focus, and from that point on, things improved."

In Zonhoven, everyone in the cyclo-cross world seemed to collectively think, "Wow, he’s back." "I’ve had some reactions. It seems people enjoy seeing me race cyclo-cross again, so that’s a nice feeling," Van der Poel said after his second win. "It’s fun. What we’ve accomplished on the road also changes how people view it."

The Dutchman himself drew a parallel to the current road world champion. "When it comes to dominance, you see that on the road with Pogacar too. I’ve been behind him a few times, so I know how that feels. But that’s just more reason to work harder and close the gap. That’s what I’ll try to do with Tadej heading into the spring. I see it as a very exciting challenge."

How does someone as successful as Van der Poel feel about racing behind someone else? "Especially at the road World Championships… It wasn't just me behind him. We were chasing with an entire peloton, and we still couldn’t catch him. You realize that sometimes there's nothing you can do when someone is that far ahead. But you always have to believe they can be beaten, and I’ll aim to do that in the spring," he said, referring to races like Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders, events Pogacar will compete in in 2025.

For now, there are still plenty of cyclo-cross races on Van der Poel’s calendar, and he’s starting with a solid foundation. "I’m trying to stay as healthy as possible during this time. I’ve already trained many hours in Spain. When I stop racing cyclo-cross, I’ll take a longer break after the road season and shift everything forward. Otherwise, the winter becomes way too long, so that’s a decision you have to make in advance. It’s fun to do some cyclo-cross now, but it’ll also be nice to head to Spain after Dendermonde," Van der Poel explained.

"I feel like I’ve gotten stronger than before and can ride in one or two bigger gears," he added after the Zilvermeer Cross, near the Dutch border. "I can feel it in the power. But I’m still a bit surprised. Last year, I had some signs during training that I was in good shape heading into the cyclo-cross season, but I didn’t really have those this year. It was more of a question mark than last year, to put it that way," Van der Poel concluded before quickly seeking warmth in the cold Belgian weather. Next up: Gavere, on Boxing Day.