Mathieu van der Poel has expressed his satisfaction with Wout van Aert’s surprising decision to participate in the Cyclo-Cross World Championships next Sunday, a move that will undoubtedly increase the excitement and competition for the coveted rainbow jersey.
Despite the inclusion of Van Aert, who adds another formidable rival to the field, Van der Poel remains the top favourite, with his six World Cup titles proving his dominance in the sport.
Although Van der Poel acknowledged that Van Aert’s participation will make for a more exciting race, he insisted that the Belgian star’s presence only adds to the spectacle for both competitors and fans. “It can only make the championships even better, also for the fans. And you never know with Wout. I have to keep him in mind, just like other riders,” Van der Poel noted.
On the prospect of equaling Erik De Vlaeminck’s long-standing record of seven world titles, Van der Poel commented: “It is a record that I can equal next Sunday. It’s been in the books for a long time, so that means something. It is something unique, but for me the most important thing is that I become world champion again.”
“The only question mark was the pain during the cross itself. But I could always race. It’s just that it would have been less pleasant,” he explained. Despite the injury, he felt he was “close to the best version of himself” for the World Cup, and his decision to skip the World Cup in Benidorm helped him focus on reaching peak fitness.
However, Van der Poel remains cautious and recalls how in previous years, even when he was in top form, he had failed to claim the title. “The race must be run,” he said, highlighting the uncertainty of any cyclo-cross event.
He also pointed out that other strong competitors such as Thibau Nys and Michael Vanthourenhout would also be in the running for the title, not to mention Van Aert, whose presence adds an extra layer of unpredictability.
In Belgium, the news about Van Aert’s participation was received with enthusiasm. National coach Angelo de Clercq emphasized how important it is to have Van Aert in the race, given his experience and previous successes. “With Wout you have an extra iron in the fire. He is a leader,” said de Clercq. “He never really went there as a title favorite, but he was still allowed to wear that rainbow jersey three times. So he is a contender, but Mathieu is the big favorite.”
