"Every journey must eventually come to a close," reflects Mathieu van der Poel, hinting at the possibility of stepping away from cyclocross soon.
This past weekend, the cyclocross world champion once again captured the spotlight by achieving consecutive victories at the UCI World Cup events held in Antwerp and Koksijde. However, beyond his impressive performances on the muddy tracks, he stirred conversations about his future in the sport.
Van der Poel is currently participating in a selective schedule of 13 races this winter, with aspirations of clinching an unprecedented eighth world title. Yet, there are whispers that this season might mark his final chapter on the cyclocross circuit.
He shared some intriguing thoughts: "While I have always believed that combining cyclocross in the winter with classics in the spring is an ideal strategy, it doesn’t necessarily mean that I couldn’t perform better without a winter of cyclocross. People often compare me to Wout van Aert, who also juggles both disciplines, but take a look at Tadej Pogačar—he focuses solely on road cycling and achieves remarkable results."
The idea of forgoing cyclocross could potentially enhance Van der Poel's performance in future showdowns against Pogačar come spring. He even expressed a desire to experience spending an entire winter in Spain at some point in his career, indicating a shift in focus.
Dani Ostanek, Cyclingnews' Senior News Writer, has been part of the team since 2017, initially contributing as a freelancer before transitioning into a full-time role. She has a passion for various prestigious races, including Strade Bianche, the Tour de France Femmes, Paris-Roubaix, and Tro-Bro Léon.
What do you think? Is it time for Van der Poel to consider a new path, or should he stick with the cyclocross that has brought him so much success? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
