Fan abuse and road ambitions place uncertainty on Van der Poel's cyclo-cross future

Despite being a completely dominant force this winter, recently-crowned world champion Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) has elaborated on the rumblings about his future in cyclo-cross, and possible plans to give up the discipline in favour of road.

Speaking to WielerFlits and other media after winning his sixth title in Tábor, Van der Poel expressed an ambition to beat Erik De Vlaeminck’s record of seven world titles in the ‘cross field, but shared his doubts on the worth of a full cyclo-cross calendar.

Read more: Cyclo-cross World Championships: Magnificent Mathieu van der Poel wins elite men's title

The 29-year-old has won essentially everything there is to win in cyclo-cross — some things multiple times — and has made his feelings clear throughout his 2023/24 campaign.

“I think that is the only motivation to start racing again in the winter,” he said of his ever-nearing prospects of matching De Vlaeminck’s rainbow jersey haul.

“The rest of the season, as I've said before, isn't important. There is only one race that counts and that is the World Championship.

“Showing that I am the best is not something I am concerned with. I'm just working on that record. Everyone still talks about that De Vlaeminck record. That's something people just don't forget. Even many years after his career, people talk about it. So those are the things that matter and keep me busy.”

Prior to winning the World Championships on Sunday, Van der Poel had raced a fairly truncated CX calendar, only starting in December, as riders increasingly struggle to marry together a full road season and a lengthy cyclo-cross campaign.

“That is impossible to combine with the road season,” he said. “So then there is only one competition left and that is the World Championships.”

However, as well as the demands of the road season, Van der Poel pointed to other factors that put him off racing ‘cross. This season, the abuse the Dutchman receives came to a head when he spat at fans in Hulst, after they had allegedly been booing and throwing things at him throughout the day.

Read more: Mathieu van der Poel spits at booing spectators on way to Hulst World Cup win

“Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it to have beer poured over you every race,” he said. “Although that shouldn't influence the decision too much. On the other hand, I can't just let it pass.”

Though those factors haven’t dampened Van der Poel’s season too much — he ends the season with 13 wins from 14 races — he admitted that simply enjoying the racing may no longer be enough as the road world champion looks towards his other goals, which in 2024 will also include mountain biking at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

“I still enjoy cyclo-cross, it's something I really like to do. But it's not just the ‘cross. It's everything that comes with it. It takes a lot of energy,” he explained.

“A day like that on the cross simply demands a lot from you. The racing is perhaps the easiest part of the day. My focus is also more and more on the road, that is where my big goals lie.”

If the World Championships are the only thing that matters, could we see Van der Poel just drop into cyclo-cross for the showpiece event each year?

"No, I do not think so,” he said when asked about that possibility. “You still have to plan around it. I just don't want to just ride one ‘cross. If I'm going to keep doing it, it will always be the way I did this year.”