This Sunday, Mathieu van der Poel won his sixth title in the Cyclocross World Championship. In the end, the biggest question was: will he continue to participate in Cyclocross in the coming seasons? “Sometimes I wonder if it’s still worth it,” Van der Poel told the press in attendance.
Easiest title of all?
When asked if this was the easiest victory ever at the world championships, Van der Poel hesitates, citing the different route and competition from last year. “But you need to beat the runners who are in the championship,” he adds.
Peak performance earlier in the season
In response to the question of whether his performance peaked earlier in the season, as he has already won other races more easily this season, Van der Poel believes the other competitors were at their best today. He highlights that he took no risks and opted for a controlled route, avoiding unnecessary falls or the loss of the title due to a flat tire.
The only motivation to continue in the sport
Van der Poel is on the verge of achieving Eric De Vlaeminck’s record of 7 World Championship wins and he expresses his motivation about this: “Yes, I think that’s the only motivation to get back racing in the winter. The rest of the season, as I said before, is not important. There is only one competition that counts: the World Championship.”
Future plans
“A day like this demands a lot from you. The run is perhaps the easiest part of the day. My focus is increasingly on the road, that’s where my big goals lie.”
“And maybe mountain biking. Sometimes I like to have a longer period of time to simply train. But it’s not a decision I can make alone.”
“I’m taking a few weeks off now. So I’m going to prepare again towards the classics. In a few weeks we will communicate what my plans are for the summer”, concluded the World Champion.
Watch the interview