‘That trip will provide the mental balance he needs’ – Mathieu van der Poel heads for ski holiday before turning focus to the road and more face-offs with Tadej Pogačar

After the dust settles on his record-breaking eighth cyclo-cross world title win, following a short ski holiday Mathieu van der Poel will turn his attention back to the road and challenging Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) at the Monuments in the spring.

His debut on the tarmac in 2026 will either come at Opening Weekend for a debut appearance in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on February 28, or at Tirreno-Adriatico, which kicks off on March 9 in Lido di Camaiore.