From beginning to end, fulfilling all expectations, especially in the absence of Wout van Aert and Tom Pidcock, Mathieu van de Poel claimed his sixth cyclocross world championship title. The race took place in Tabor, Czech Republic, where he had previously won his first title in 2015. This victory marks his 162nd win in the sport, solidifying his dominance.

Although he didn’t wear the rainbow jersey as the current champion, VDP displayed his incredible skills donning the orange of the Netherlands team. This season has been outstanding for him, with 13 victories out of 14 races. The only race he lost was due to an unfortunate fall in Benidorm.

The race conditions were soft and muddy in certain areas, but Van der Poel effortlessly conquered the challenging terrain while his competitors struggled. Felipe Orts, among other talented riders, fought hard to secure a spot in the top 10 and improve his previous twelfth-place finish in a World Cup event.

Throughout the race, Van der Poel was closely trailed by his fellow Dutchman Joris Nieuwenhuis, albeit significantly behind. Behind them, the battle for the bronze medal intensified among other riders. Ultimately, it was the Belgian Michael Vanthourenhout who secured the third-place position, preventing a Dutch sweep. Felipe Orts finished in tenth place, 2 minutes and 48 seconds behind the champion.

Having just turned 29, Van der Poel may take a break before returning to the muddy tracks. On his horizon lies the thrilling goal of surpassing Eric de Vlaeminck’s record of being a seven-time world champion in cyclocross. The Belgian legend currently holds the crown, but Van der Poel is determined to leave his mark in the history of the sport.