Mathieu van der Poel fuels cyclocross retirement talk with Hulst as potential farewell
Mathieu van der Poel is still dominating cyclocross like it is business as usual, but on Sunday evening he opened the door to a scenario many fans have barely considered: this winter could be his last full season in the mud. The reigning world champion admits the thought of stepping away from the discipline has been on his mind for a while.
The spark came after his victory in Antwerp on Saturday, where he hinted to AD that an end point is not far away. One day later, speaking to HLN, he put the idea into plain words. “It is something I think about, yes.”
Van der Poel frames it less as doubt about his love for cyclocross and more as a question of timing, legacy and energy. He has long spoken about finishing in his home country, ideally while taking another piece of history with him.
“I have always said it would be very nice to stop in my own country with the record. For the rest, there would not be much more left for me to achieve in cyclocross.” The record he refers to is an eighth world title, which would see him move clear of current joint record holder Eric De Vlaeminck.
That target matters because it offers both symbolism and control. He also looks ahead to the Worlds in Hoogerheide in 2028, a venue closely tied to his career, and explains why waiting can be risky.
“I always wanted to stop on a high point. If you then finish fifth in Hoogerheide, there will be an aftertaste. I am not saying I assume I will become world champion in Hulst, but then I do have the choice to do it there.”
The decision is not made, but the conversations are real. “We have talked about it internally a few times. It is something I think about, yes. I am not getting any younger. Right now I am still at a very high level, but who says that will still be the case in two, three years?”
He adds, with a shrug at the uncertainty, “I do not know, because I do not have a crystal ball. Otherwise it would be easy, of course.”
There is also a practical layer. Van der Poel underlines that a winter without racing in the field could better serve his road ambitions, offering more recovery and uninterrupted training blocks.
“I would mainly do it with a view to the road season, yes. To be able to take a bit more rest during the winter. By being able to stay in Spain all winter, for example, and train there. I still really love cyclocross, but there is a lot involved and it takes a lot of energy.”
He is not convinced that cyclocross is essential for peak road form. “I do not think I absolutely need cyclocross to reach my best level. Certainly not. Maybe without cross it could even be better? If you do not try it, you do not know.”
What would he miss most? “The cyclocross itself, of course. That is still what I love most. And the crowd. I grew up with that atmosphere. We will see. It is certainly not a final decision.”
