As the Cyclo-cross World Championships approach, all eyes are on Mathieu van der Poel, the six-time world champion with a knack for keeping fans and rivals guessing. While his father, Adrie van der Poel, and national coach, Gerben de Knegt, are confident in his preparation, even they admit they’re not fully privy to his strategy. Known for his instinctive racing and calculated unpredictability, Van der Poel thrives on surprising everyone, including his closest advisors.
The Dutchman has been fine-tuning his form ahead of the championships in Liévin, France. Although he hasn’t raced competitively since December, his perfect streak of five wins last month — despite recovering from a rib injury — proves he’s a force to be reckoned with. After skipping several January races in Belgium to train under the sun in Spain, Van der Poel is gearing up for two crucial tune-up races this weekend in Maasmechelen, Belgium, and Hoogerheide, the Netherlands, the latter organized by his father.
Adrie van der Poel is optimistic about his son’s chances but acknowledges there’s still some fine-tuning to be done. “To be honest, I thought his performance in Zonhoven was exceptional, while the other four wins were just good,” he said, hinting that Mathieu’s best form is still on the horizon. “The two World Cup races this weekend and another week of cyclo-cross training should be enough to get him one hundred percent ready. Let’s just say he’s got the ‘i’ written; now he just needs to dot it.”
Van der Poel’s Spanish training camp, alongside close friends and teammates, was a calculated move to build fitness without the strain of intense cyclo-cross racing. While the break meant missing key races, it also gave him the opportunity to recover fully from his rib injury and sharpen his form in better conditions.
National coach Gerben de Knegt has learned to let Van der Poel take the reins when it comes to race-day strategy. “Mathieu likes to play dumb and can come across as a bit casual, but he’s way more prepared than he lets on,” De Knegt revealed. “He often tells me, ‘I’ll figure it out during the race,’ but it’s clear he’s thought through every possible scenario.”
Van der Poel’s unique approach to racing, marked by spontaneity and supreme confidence, makes him a dangerous contender for his seventh world title. Whether he attacks early or bides his time, one thing is certain: he’ll keep fans and rivals guessing until the very end.
