There is no doubt about it: Mathieu van der Poel is the overwhelming favorite to win his seventh cyclo-cross world championship title this Sunday. But what strategy will the Dutch team use in Liévin? Is a strategy even necessary?
“You can discuss race tactics with him, but from experience, I know that it’s usually not needed,” says national coach Gerben de Knegt in an interview with Wielerflits. Van der Poel has been the most dominant rider in cyclo-cross over the past years. This season, the reigning world champion has won every race he participated in, and he aims to continue that streak at the World Championships.
Full Gas from the Start
“If you look at Mathieu’s races this year and in previous years, you know that when he’s in top shape, he simply goes full gas. I expect a tough course in Liévin, and in that case, this is the best possible tactic,” De Knegt predicts.
Going full gas—building the biggest possible lead as quickly as possible. “If you gain a significant advantage early on, you can afford to have a minor mechanical issue without losing the race. I expect him to follow the same approach again.”
However, De Knegt acknowledges that Van der Poel could be his own biggest rival in Liévin. “Even for Mathieu, there will be some stress at the start on Sunday. In a way, he has everything to lose. Plus, he has the chance to break the all-time win record if he crosses the finish line first. I think that’s secretly something he has on his mind. If he pulls it off, it would be fantastic.”
Physical vs. Mental Challenge
There is no doubt that Van der Poel will be the strongest rider physically on Sunday. But what about the mental aspect? “It’s everything surrounding the race. Traveling to France, doing course reconnaissance, and dealing with all the media requests—interviews, photos, and so on. That’s part of the job, but when you do it all year round, it can drain a lot of energy.”
Meanwhile, Wout van Aert will also be lining up in Liévin, where a tough and muddy course is expected. “I checked the weather forecast for the weekend, and I saw how challenging the conditions will be. I expect a brutal race at a steady, relentless pace. In such a scenario, the strongest rider usually wins.”
