Van der Poel keeps cyclocross future open after eighth world title: 'Maybe I skip a year'

Asked whether this was his very best, he refused to make it that simple. “That is difficult to say,” he told Sporza. “Last week I might have been a bit stronger and better, but this course was very different.”

So he raced it like a day that could still bite. For him, it was about control, not showmanship. “I tried to manage everything well. I wanted to be sure bad luck would not ruin the party, and I did what I had to do.”

Only afterwards did the weight of the moment really land. “This is very special. When I started racing, I dreamed of one world title. Now I have the most cyclocross titles in history. That is unbelievable.”

But the conversation quickly moved to the next question that has followed him this winter: will he keep crossing every season, or is there finally a pause coming?

“I honestly have not decided yet,” he admitted. The decision is not only emotional, but also logistical, because his road schedule keeps expanding. “Now the winter seems long, but that is also because of the road planning. If you race longer and start again earlier, then the winter feels less long.” 

What he does know is that the sport still gives him something. “I still really like racing cross. I enjoy it and the training is fun, but it is always an intense period. It is just a thought to maybe not do it for a year.”

There are obvious temptations on the horizon. Upcoming worlds in Oostende and Hoogerheide would suit him, and the idea of chasing a round number of titles is hard to ignore. 

When the topic came up in Sporza's studio, he smiled at the teasing and the gentle pressure. “Oostende is a nice cross, yes. We will see. That there is a golf course nearby and that I can make it a weekend at the sea? You are trying to convince me, right,” he laughed.

Van der Poel framed it as a thought, not a decision. Still, the possibility of a winter without him immediately changes the temperature of the sport. 

On the Live Slow Ride Fast podcast, Wout van Aert gave voice to what many quietly feel. “I found it hard to believe,” he said. “With how dominant he is right now, I think everyone should be happy if Mathieu keeps racing. It’s fantastic to watch him ride. He is undoubtedly the greatest cyclocross rider of all time.”

For now, the short term for Van der Poel is about recovery and a reset. He is going skiing for a few days, then he will start building toward the road campaign in Spain. 

His first race back remains open too. Asked if he will start Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on 28 February, he kept the decision close. “I will only decide that the week before. If I feel good enough during my preparation, I will definitely add it.” If it comes too soon, he already has an alternative ready. “Otherwise it will be Tirreno Adriatico again.”