Van der Poel's cyclocross plans unclear as brother David discusses impact of fatherhood

After securing the bronze medal in the men’s elite road race at the World Championships in Montréal on Sunday, Mathieu van der Poel confirmed that his road season has come to an end. 

“No, no, this was my last race today,” Van der Poel told Eurosport with a laugh when asked if he fancied lining up at Il Lombardia after his strong performance. 

That confirmation ultimately sees Van der Poel round out his 2026 campaign with eight victories on the road, including Omloop Nieuwsblad, E3 Saxo Classic, as well as two Tour de France stage victories. 

Overall, despite missing out on a Monument, which he pointed out himself, the Dutchman was largely satisfied with his campaign as a whole, as well as his bronze in the road race as a curtain closer. 

“I think I can be happy [with this season]. I miss a Monument, but I can’t win one every year. But in general, I can be happy, and this is a nice finish to the road season.” 

With Van der Poel’s road season now drawn to a close, questions have already started to be asked about what his plans are for the upcoming winter. 

Back in February, Van der Poel made history in Hulst, surpassing Erik De Vlaeminck by winning a record-breaking eighth men’s elite cyclocross world title. 

Van der Poel has now won four consecutive world titles, and has been a dominant force when he has raced in each of those four campaigns. 

He is currently unbeaten for over two seasons, across a streak of 24 races, dating back to the UCI World Cup round in Benidorm back in January 2024, where he suffered a crash on the penultimate lap before finishing fifth. 

The 2021/22 season was the last time Van der Poel didn’t really feature much in the cross field. He started just two races before calling his campaign to a premature end due to persistent back problems caused by his crash at the Tokyo Olympics XCO mountain bike race. 

However, ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, Van der Poel remained vague on whether he plans to return to cyclocross this winter. 

“I don’t know if there will be a comeback in the field, so we’ll see,” Van der Poel told Sporza. 

Van der Poel and his partner Roxanne Bertels are expecting their first child with a due date in January, the same month that the Worlds will take place in Ostend. 

“Becoming a father for the first time is, of course, very special. So, we’ll see,” Van der Poel told NOS. 

Meanwhile, David van der Poel, brother of Mathieu, also believes fatherhood could play a significant role in the world champion's decision. 

David, a former professional who now works as a rider agent and analyst for Sporza, suggested Van der Poel's imminent fatherhood was something that he would need to take into consideration. 

"Imminent fatherhood is a moment he needs to, and wants to, pause and reflect on,"  David told Het Nieuwsblad.

David also acknowledged the impact of everything that comes with a cyclocross winter, beyond just the hour of racing. 

“Not because he no longer enjoys racing those events, but because of everything else involved. It goes beyond just an hour of racing," said David. "He spends the entire day on it each time and has to give interviews as well... That demands a lot of mental focus and energy. He would love to be left alone for a winter.”

David, however, is not convinced that missing cyclocross would automatically lead to better preparation for the road season. 

“I don’t know if skipping cyclocross necessarily makes for better preparation [for the spring season]. In recent seasons, the two disciplines have never got in each other’s way.”

“Mathieu is heading into a rest period now and will only sit down with the team afterwards to discuss the best course of action. The sponsors will have a say in that, too.”

Though it remains unclear whether Van der Poel will race cross this season, Wout van Aert has confirmed that he plans to race this winter. 

“I’ll definitely be back in the mud, but for now, the bike is going into the travel bag,” Van Aert told Sporza after the road race in Montréal. 

Meanwhile, Tom Pidcock, who finished seventh in Montréal, confirmed earlier this month that he will skip cyclocross for a third consecutive winter, having not raced since the 2023/24 campaign, the season when he wore the rainbow jersey.

"At the moment it doesn't look good for cyclocross at the Olympic Games, does it?" Pidcock told Wielerflits. "That personally doesn't help me make a return. If cyclocross gets a place at the Games, then I think I will race cross again."