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Follow us on GoogleMathieu van der Poel pulled off another unprecedented one-man-show yesterday, becoming cyclo-cross world champion for the seventh time. But was it as easy for the Dutch rider as it looked for us cycling fans? Certainly not, because Van der Poel had a flat tire in the third lap, which could have made the race exciting. But Van der Poel kept going and was victorious in the end.
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In the lead from the very first lap? It seems to be the trademark of the world champion, but according to father Adrie van der Poel, that is certainly not his son's goal. "Apparently, it was the right tactic. At one point, he created a gap; from then on, it was a matter of control. Staying focused because you couldn't afford to make too many mistakes on this course," father Adrie told
Het Laatste Nieuws.
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Mathieu van der Poel took the lead from the first lap
Flat tire doesn't bother Van der Poel
The fact that the world champion always takes the lead reasonably quickly is because he has an advantage over his rivals if something goes wrong. And Sunday, this proved to be the right choice. Van der Poel had a flat tire on the third lap and still had a long way to go to the pit area. According to sports director Christoph Roodhooft, he lost quite a bit of time as a result. "Mathieu lost fifteen to twenty seconds. And that affected the next half lap."
So caution was called for after the bike switch, and the Dutch rider was extra precautious later on. Except it wasn't visible because the rivals weren't getting any closer. He showed the competition his heels for an hour, something Roodhooft clearly enjoyed. "For us, of course, this differs from the neutral viewer, who longs for an exciting battle. All sympathy for that. But everyone could enjoy Mathieu's supremacy, technique, and control."
Read more below!
Mathieu van der Poel past the crazy crowd.
Van der Poel races with dominance to victory in Liévin and sets his sights on upcoming World Championships
According to dad Adrie, the Dutch rider, who now has seven world titles and has won 289 cyclo-cross races - an unprecedented high number - should not be taken for granted. "We really shouldn't take this for granted. You know us: down-to-earth, not too exuberant people. But of course, it makes 'Matje,' me, and all of us super proud. Not only for this - I think it is incredible how he always manages to peak on the day of the World Championships - but for everything he has achieved. I have deep admiration for that."
Now that he has seven world titles, the magic ten is looming ever closer. And next year, Hulst awaits a course that suits him exceptionally well. "There will be more opportunities. But there are also those for the competition. The seventh title was not a certainty, and neither will the eighth. Not taking it for granted is one of the main ingredients to make it possible," Dutch coach Roodhooft concluded his story.
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- I’m not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026