2025 UCI Cyclocross World Championships

Mathieu Van Der Poel Gears Up For Cyclocross World Championships 2025

Mathieu Van Der Poel Gears Up For Cyclocross World Championships 2025

Mathieu van der Poel wins final Cyclo-Cross World Cup races, setting up a thrilling World Championships showdown with Wout Van Aert in Lievin.

Jan 27, 2025 by AFP Report
Cross Worlds 2025: Van Der Poel vs. Van Aert

Mathieu van der Poel geared up for the world championships next month by winning the final two races of the cyclo-cross World Cup this weekend.


On a circuit designed by his father Adrie, the Dutch rider claimed his seventh success in as many races this season at home in Hoogerheide on Sunday.

On Saturday, Van Der Poel had beaten home hope Wout Van Aert at Maasmechelen in Belgium. Van Aert did not compete on Sunday.

Reigning world champion Van Der Poel demonstrated his return to form after picking up a rib injury in a crash last month.

Van Der Poel's Dominance Continues

"I'm not 100 percent yet but my broken rib doesn't hurt too much anymore," said the 29-year-old Alpecin rider.

Leading from the first of the seven laps on Sunday, he won with a 1-minute 42-second lead on Belgian Michael Vanthourenhout, who consoled himself by winning the final World Cup classification after 12 races.

Clash Of Titans At Worlds

Van Der Poel is favourite for the cyclo-cross world championships in Lievin, France, from January 31 to February 2 where he will bid to match Belgian Eric De Vlaeminck's record of seven world titles.

Van Aert confirmed he will also be competing in Lievin, setting the stage for a thrilling duel between the pair.

"I'm feeling good, and my winter has gone well," said the Visma-Lease a Bike rider. "The world championships only recently came into my mind and after Maasmechelen the Belgian team coach and I decided to compete."

"I'm excited to start in such a beautiful race, and I think that this extra boost is doing me good in the lead-up to bigger goals on the road."

The 30-year-old Van Aert has only competed in five cross-country races this season, winning twice. He has lost both his confrontations against Van Der Poel.

But on Saturday in Maasmechelen where he finished second, the triple world champion in the specialty seemed to be able to rival the Dutchman, before being penalized by two falls.