Mathieu Van der Poel: portrait of a very great

When you're the son of a champion, it's never easy to make a name for yourself. Yet the destiny of Mathieu van der Poel seems to settle without taking into account this kind of consideration. The prodigy of modern cyclo-cross stands out to such an extent that one would even forget that his grandfather was also one of the greatest stars that cycling has known. He is the new world champion.

By Jean-François Tatard – Photos: DR

In a cyclo-cross world championship, being the ultra favorite does not necessarily translate into a victory. You can have dominated the entire season and miss the only real event that counts… Nevertheless, being there on D-Day is often the mark of the very Great!

World Champion (finally!)

After having almost insolently blown away the entire season, the young Dutchman Mathieu Van der Poel dominated the only race that you really have to win to establish yourself as the best in the world. The race for the rainbow jersey. However, he was the undisputed favorite of the event that took place in Denmark. Toon Aerts, the winner of the World Cup and Wout Van Aert, the triple world champion, could not do much in the face of the supremacy and the demonstration of class and extraordinary technicality of the grandson of Raymond Poulidor.

Van der Poel's talent is matched only by the feats he achieves on his bike.. As passionate as we are, we have all seen these images on the sand when we wonder how he manages to stay on his machine without putting his foot on the ground. It is a technique all his own. A genius! The only one to master this art to this point. No matter the terrain, he tames all the ground with disconcerting speed. He tames his bike. He dominates his opponents. The only thing Van der Poel doesn't control, ultimately, is his parentage. 

One name, one double story

Van der Poel is a name that carries weight. His father, Adrie Van der Poel, won the Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, two of the most beautiful Classics on the calendar. And among hundreds and hundreds of victories, his list of achievements also includes in bold a title of cyclo-cross world champion, acquired in 1996 in Montreuil.

Mathieu learned to live in that world. He was prepared for it, or maybe he prepared himself for it, all by himself. When grandfathers usually tell their little boys stories about cowboys or knights while eating sugar pancakes that their grandmother made for a snack, his grandpa told him the story of the most beautiful duel that cycling has ever known... The legend of the eternal second of the Tour against Master Jacques Anquetil… "This legend born of unfinished exploits and misfortunes encountered, it's funny, but it smells of real life... And for good reason, Mathieu's grandfather is none other than Raymond Poulidor. 

Connoisseurs have known for a long time that this kid is even stronger than his ancestors. "Poupou" himself saw very early that his own daughter's son was a prodigy. It seems that at five years old, one could sense in Mathieu a mastery that is found nowhere else. Each year that followed, he only confirmed it. Six years ago, Van der Poel even won all thirty cyclo-cross races he took part in: such consistency, beyond a certain level, is art. 

The most talented in history?

Praise swirls around the prodigy. He stands out from the rest. He towers over the discipline of his entire class. Even on route, it stands out: In 2013, he was crowned Junior World Champion in route. And a year and a half later, at just 20 years old, he became the youngest world champion in the history of cyclo-cross. Although cyclo-cross belongs to him, he doesn't even seem to realize the weight that weighs on his shoulders. Van der Poel plays…

What characterizes him is this impression of serenity, this detachment from the exaltation that his story arouses. « I just focus on having fun » These are his words. Mathieu Van der Poel is having fun.

And tomorrow?

Tomorrow is tomorrow in the literal sense. The day after the world championship, which also marks the end of a perfectly well-filled season with a notebook that would offer the jury's congratulations. But tomorrow is also the aftermath. Mathieu Van der Poel has won (almost) everything in his discipline. So what can we imagine for him? My future? I want to go to the Olympics in mountain biking first and then I will head to the route "His grandfather says he can win the Tour. Mathieu has already mapped out his career. And so far, it has been flawless. So...

Today, he is the national pro champion in all disciplines. route, mountain biking and cyclo-cross. 

In modern cycling where you have to choose your discipline, it seems impossible to play on all fronts. Route, cross or mountain bike, you will have to choose. However, Mathieu obtains his legitimacy on his bike. Today, he is the national pro champion in all disciplines. route, mountain biking and cyclo-cross. 

Every time Mathieu Van der Poel opens a parenthesis, it results in success. He validates all the tests with the power of a man who knows everything about the environment and the principles. Where it is usually the sports directors, the selectors, the organizers or even the calendar who hold the power and the choice of careers, he, Mathieu Van der Poel, still does what he wants...