Mathieu van der Poel now stands alone atop the UCI CX World Cup wins list with 51–he broke the record on Sunday in Hoogerheide. On Saturday in Maasmechelen he tied Sven Nys at 50. The race on Sunday, no less, is named after his father, Adrie–(and Nys’s son, Thibau was there.) But the question is, was that his last World Cup?
Recently, the reigning world champion has begun to ask himself how much longer he wants to keep doing it. With just one race remaining on his winter calendar–the worlds in Hulst, the Dutchman has left open the possibility that this World Cup season could be his last.
In an interview with Het Nieuwsblad, Van der Poel acknowledged that stepping away from ‘cross is no longer a distant thought.
“It’s something I’m thinking about,” Van der Poel said.
The timing is not accidental. Van der Poel has long spoken about wanting to end his cyclocross career at its peak, ideally with the outright record for world titles. An eighth rainbow jersey at the upcoming world championships in Hulst would give the 30-year-old sole ownership of that mark, breaking his tie with Eric De Vlaeminck.
Looking beyond this season, van der Poel was careful not to commit to future campaigns, including the 2028 worlds in Hoogerheide. Choosing the right moment to stop, he suggested, matters as much as winning itself. Ending a career after its best years have passed would be difficult to accept. While he stopped short of assuming victory in Hulst, he admitted that success there would give him the freedom to decide what comes next.
Beyond legacy, the decision is also practical. Cyclocross, Van der Poel said, demands significant physical and mental energy — energy that inevitably affects his road programme. Skipping winter racing could open the door to more rest and longer training blocks. He could spend the entire offseason in Spain, riding on the road. During ‘cross he trains there, but needs to come back to the colder parts of Europe for the races. Plus, he needs to factor in his volume around the races. (Somewhat.)
Van der Poel does not see cyclocross as essential to maintaining his road form and even wonders whether his level on the road could improve without it. Still, walking away would not be easy. The racing, and especially the atmosphere created by fans, remains close to his heart.
For now, no final decision has been made. But the question feels less like if and more like…
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