Van der Poel: Road to Cyclo-Cross Worlds Victory

He was already extremely proud in the studio at Sporza. ‘I don’t think anyone expects that when you start racing. When I started racing as a little boy, Sven came to give me cross training. I have few childhood memories, but I do remember that. At that time he was the only one who also jumped over beams.’

VDP did not attempt to jump beams himself – on the advice of father Adrie. ‘I did that during the reconnaissance, but I had an idea that it would go just as quickly while walking. That’s why I decided for myself not to take unnecessary risks on that point.’ Because you don’t need to take unnecessary risks if you are as good as Van der Poel.

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Mathieu van der Poel press conference after the Cyclo-Cross World Championships

Mathieu, did the race go as you expected?
‘I was prepared for any scenario, but I’m happy that I could start well. Tibor did a good first part and I then rode the pace that I felt comfortable with and that allowed me to put pressure on the others. I could then defend the gap I created.’

Because you already had your share of bad luck in the morning.
‘Haha. That’s right. I rode my road bike to Hulst and already had a flat tire. Luckily I was able to fix it, but the car wasn’t far away either. On Saturday, a number of men from the selection also had a puncture on the way to the course.’

Afterwards you had a chat with King Willem-Alexander. What was said there?
‘He was proud of me and Tibor, he said. It was very cool that he was here to support the Dutch delegation. He was able to see what a beautiful event this was, in a unique location. It was also very nice to drive here as a driver.’

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Winning is almost normal. Can you explain what kind of work goes into this?
‘That is why I said a few weeks ago that one winter without cross country would also be possible. This is my first peak of the season, both physically and mentally. It is not good enough to start here at 90 percent and people sometimes underestimate how much work you have to do to be in top form. That’s why I’m thinking about a different approach towards the road season.

I’m doing a lot more training than in the past, but that’s also because my cross season starts later. You are always busy with two things: being in top form at the World Cup, but also the upcoming road season. That makes it… I don’t want to say difficult, but you’re still working on it.’

Do you enjoy working so hard for it more and more?
‘Yes, 100 percent. I enjoy my time on the bike much more. There is still pressure, but it is becoming less and less. Because it won’t change much about my career. But that’s precisely why I enjoy it more.’

Do you also enjoy these titles more?
‘Certainly. I feel like I’m closer to the end than the beginning of my career, so that’s still on your mind. I still have goals left, but I also realize that not everything will work out. It was none walk in the park and even after eight titles, some stress slips away. It’s only one hour, but a lot can happen.’

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Could you actually resist not racing?
‘If I know that I would not race, I also know that my road season would last longer. So then I also have some time for fun moments in Spain in the winter, which I can certainly enjoy.’

Thibau Nys said that you were the best, but that in terms of feeling you were not among your best five or ten cyclo-cross races of the winter in his opinion. Is that correct?
‘I was probably a bit better last weekend, but you also have to deal with courses and the like. It’s a World Cup, so you’re also careful. I tried to keep the risks to a minimum, such as in the descents or with the beams.’

You now have eight. How would 10-year-old Mathieu have looked at that?
‘He wouldn’t have believed it. The victory in Tabor in 2015 was already very nice, but after that it didn’t work out for three years. Then you know what you are missing and that there is always one hour in which everything has to go perfectly. But I never would have believed that I would win eight. I am all the more proud of it and hopefully my record will stand for a while, just like Erik De Vlaeminck’s record did.’