On the bike, Mathieu van der Poel’s cyclocross weekend went just about how everyone expected it to — the dominant Dutchman winning in Antwerp and Koksijde, taking his seasonal record to three races, three wins. He’s got a shot at a fourth at the X²O Badkamers Trofee Hofstade Plage cross later today, but much of the attention is rather on what Van der Poel said this weekend.
Simply majestic 🎯
Mathieu van der Poel keeps his 100% win record with a victory at the UCI World Cup in Koksijde! pic.twitter.com/7DbeVG8oLW
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) December 21, 2025
On Saturday, having won in Antwerp, the rider who turns 31 in January suggested winning a record-breaking eighth ‘cross world title, at a home event in the Netherlands, would be the perfect send off.
A day later, in Koksijde, Van der Poel added to his comments of the previous day when speaking to Het Laatste Nieuws.
“I have always said that I would love to break the record in my own country,” Van der Poel said. “There wouldn’t be much else for me to achieve in cyclocross. I always wanted to retire on a high.
“We’ve discussed it internally a few times. It’s something I’m thinking about, yes. I’m not getting any younger, you know. I’m still performing at a very high level at the moment, but who’s to say I’ll still be at that level in two or three years? I don’t know for sure, because I don’t have a crystal ball. Otherwise, it would be easy, of course. That’s why I’d love to say goodbye on a high note.
“I would do it mainly with the road season in mind, yes. To be able to get a bit more rest during the winter. For example, by being able to stay in Spain for an entire winter and train there. I still love ‘cross, but there is a lot involved and it takes a lot of energy.”
Van der Poel did say that if he doesn’t break the record then he’ll definitely be back next winter, but it looks like we should probably enjoy those crushing ‘cross displays while we’ve got them…
Talking of crushing cyclocross displays from a dominant Dutch rider, Lucinda Brand set the standard for MvdP to follow this weekend, winning in Antwerp and Koksijde as well.
Phenomenal Brand! 🔥
Lucinda Brand dominates in Koksijde, extending her UCI World Cup lead! pic.twitter.com/GLyhgVjxFE
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) December 21, 2025
It means Brand has already racked up 12 wins from 14 cyclocross races this winter, the 36-year-old looking well on track to add a second world title to her palmares next month, especially given the sad news from Friday that three-time world champ Fem van Empel has put her cycling career on hold and has left Visma-Lease a Bike, admitting “the enjoyment and motivation are missing”.