Mathieu van der Poel made quite the statement with his return to cyclocross, showcasing his unparalleled talent during the World Cup event held at Zonhoven. The Dutch world champion from Alpecin-Deceuninck, van der Poel, stealthily arrived to the race, escaping most media attention, but quickly shifted their focus once the race began.
During the build-up to the event, his father, Adrie van der Poel, offered insights on his son’s performance outlook. "It remains exciting for me, too. Usually, I'm at home on the sofa, but I assume he’s fit. Yet, being fit on the road bike is different from being fit on the cyclocross bike," he remarked, expressing mixed anticipation and concern. Adrie noted the limited preparation his son had undertaken, stating, "He has only done two cyclocross training sessions, which isn’t much compared to recent years. So, there’s room for improvement on the technical side, but he will be fine conditionally."
Though he might prefer to avoid the spotlight, Mathieu van der Poel knew how to capture it immediately after the race commenced. Starting from the third row, he propelled himself effortlessly to the front within just 76 seconds, setting the stage for what would evolve to be nearly one hour of solo excellence.
Renowned observers, including fellow racers and coaches, expressed their admiration for the performance. "This start was ideal for him as it is relatively long, and nothing unusual happened," Adrie commented post-race, reflecting on his son's advantageous race start. He continued to applaud Mathieu’s resilient nature, adding, "After the first chicane, he was immediately engaging with the competition. His lead was evident, and I didn’t foresee any danger of losing it."
Sven Nys, another former standout racer, noted the remarkable disparity between van der Poel and the rest of the field. "I have much admiration for this. He rides like a motorcycle; as competitors, we’re only riding for second place,” he stated. Nys went on to acknowledge the natural talent van der Poel possesses, saying, "He can simply overpower many people across numerous disciplines. It’s unprecedented."
Adding to the chorus of praise, Bart Wellens expressed his disbelief at van der Poel’s dominance, stating, "After only 300 meters, he emerged from the Kuil leading. He exhibits so much power; it seems effortless. And this capability should only grow stronger leading up to the World Championship—that would be something spectacular!" With such acknowledgments from seasoned professionals, it's clear Mathieu van der Poel's performance set the benchmark high.
Commenting on the specific conditions of the race, Adrie van der Poel pointed out how they played to his son's favor. "The rain had solidified the sand, which made it easier to ride along the paths. It’s important to note, though, how significant his lead was," he elaborated. The younger van der Poel noted, "The heavy nature of the cross was beneficial. I could run my own pace from the outset, which is satisfying. I had not anticipated such smooth sailing at the beginning. The last left-hand turn before the first pitfall had me worried, but the mud allowed me to maintain my front position."
After his display at Zonhoven, van der Poel expressed high hopes for the future, particularly the World Championship taking place in Liévin at the beginning of February. Both he and his father recognize this upcoming competition as the ideal stage to peak. Adrie stated, "Last year was decent but not superb. For the World Championship, it’s quintessential to be at one’s best. Mathieu is aware of what lies ahead. If he needs to increase his efforts or continue on this current path, the final push for the World Championship will start four weeks prior to the event."
On the surface, Mathieu van der Poel’s return not only demonstrated his skills but reinforced expectations for his performance as the season progresses. His seamless transition back to the head of the cyclocross pack leaves fans and critics wondering just how formidable he will be when the World Championships arrive. For now, he remains the one to beat, as illustrated by his commanding win at Zonhoven.
