It’s time to hang up the ‘cross cleats, Mathieu. We get it. You’re unbeatable. You win everything, sometimes seemingly with ease. Sometimes you wait until the end to make your insane moves, but on Sunday at the UCI cyclocross world championships in Tábor, you went early. The race was pretty much over in the first minute. Even if you had flatted far from the pits, he probably still would have been able to run to them, swap bikes and take the win.
Your bro Joris Nieuwenhuis took second, and briefly managed to stay with you. Michael Vanthourenhout took third place for Belgium. Pim Ronhaar finished in fourth, and Eli Iserbyt from Belgium taking fifth position. But I bet they would be thrilled if you doesn’t race ‘cross next season.
Mathieu van der Poel cruises to sixth cyclocross World title
Sure, the win brought him within one world title of Erik De Vlaeminck’s record-setting seven victories. But dude, please. You’ve hinted that this might be your last ‘cross season, and honestly, why not? With the greatest respect, when you show up to a race, everyone–the fans, the other riders, the organizers know you’re going to win. Without a Wout van Aert–and even Tom Pidcock, it’s even more clearcut.
“It was the most important race of my cyclocross season, so I’m happy to take the win,” you said. “Apart from the world title and the fun, there is not much left for me to gain in cyclocross. My focus is increasingly shifting to the road.”
4 ways to slow Mathieu van der Poel down so CX is exciting again
It’s a decision that he cannot make on his own, you said. So talk to your team and figure it out.
“Cross in the winter is something that takes a lot of energy. If it turns out that I can perform even better on the road by skipping cyclocross, then I will do that,” you told us after the race. “We will know more about my road program in two weeks, but not yet about next winter.”
Just call it bud. Give the other lads a chance to get a rainbow jersey, OK? You can keep killin’ it on the road. If you need a new challenge, there’s always artistic cycling.
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