Mathieu van der Poel’s dominance in the field has long raised questions about his future. Before the start of the World Cup Cross in Maasmechelen, Sven Nys looked at that theme. The cyclo-cross legend not only looked at performance, but especially at career planning and mentality. In conversation with Sporza, he shared a remarkably honest assessment.
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Lyric Sven Nys speaks out clearly about Van Der Poel
Different career, different timing
According to Sven Nys, who remained active in the field until he was 39, it is unlikely that Van der Poel will follow a similar path. According to him, the comparison between the two careers is flawed, precisely because the context today is fundamentally different than in his active years.
“I don’t think Van der Poel will continue racing until he is 39,” Nys said bluntly. According to him, the reason for this is not motivation or quality, but the unique trajectory that Van der Poel has already completed. “He was also world champion at the age of 19, so it’s just a completely different career and attitude than mine.”
While Nys built his entire career around cyclo-cross, Van der Poel won just about everything there is to win at a young age. According to the Cannibal of Baal, this changes the way you look at the future.
New generation, different ambitions
Nys also pointed to a broader evolution within the sport. “It’s also just a completely different generation that has different ambitions in life,” he said. Riders combine disciplines, choose their programs more consciously and think about balance outside the sport in the longer term.
With a wink, Nys even sketched a possible picture of the future. “I think he’ll be on a golf course somewhere in the past,” he joked.
