Adrie van der Poel witnessed his son, Mathieu, become cyclocross world champion for the seventh time on Sunday. How did the former cyclist experience his son’s triumphant ride?
Mathieu’s Dominance from the Start
Mathieu van der Poel wasted no time asserting his dominance at the World Championship race. In the opening minutes, he broke away from the competition, making it immediately clear that he was determined to claim the title. His eternal rival, Wout van Aert, was unable to challenge him, allowing Van der Poel to secure his seventh world title.
Van Aert’s Unexpected Participation
“It’s impressive how he always manages to prepare himself,” said Adrie van der Poel in an interview with Wielerflits. “This year, he was really good, but last year, he was a lot less strong. That’s why he adjusted his preparation.”
Mathieu dominated the race, but his father admitted that Van Aert’s participation came as a surprise.
“It’s remarkable how he handled that surprise,” Van der Poel Sr. continued. “You suddenly have another top competitor, and you know Van Aert is there to win. In the end, that only sharpened his focus, so it actually worked in his favor. He didn’t let it bother him. Over the last few years, he has become immune to nerves.”
Less Pressure Than Before
According to Adrie, his son no longer feels the same pressure to win world titles as he did in the past. “I think it’s more of a topic for the media. He just wants to win, whether it’s his seventh title or not. We’re not indifferent to it—it’s great, of course—but the real record only comes when you win your eighth title. There will also be a winter where he won’t race in cyclocross, as he needs to balance it with his spring season. That can be a challenge.”
An Hour of All-Out Effort
Van der Poel did exactly what he needed to in Liévin: win. “In the end, everything depends on that one hour, so you have to stay focused. The weather conditions add an element of risk at every turn, but that can also play to his advantage. By building a lead in the first two laps, he was able to race in a completely different way,” Adrie concluded.
