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Dani Ostanek

'Every now and then, you have to consider other options' – Mathieu van der Poel non-commital on potential cyclo-cross retirement ahead of bid for record-breaking eighth world title

van der Poel Mathieu van der Poel BELGA MAG Sven Nys Hulst DAVID PINTENS a World Championships World Championships
Dutch Mathieu Van Der Poel pictured in action during and Dutch Mathieu Van Der Poel pictured in action during the Men's Elite race at the cyclocross cycling event in Benidorm, Spain, Sunday 18 January 2026, stage 10/12 in the UCI World Cup competition. BELGA PHOTO DAVID PINTENS (Photo by DAVID PINTENS / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP).

Mathieu van der Poel heads to the Cyclo-cross World Championships on Sunday for his 11th appearance at the sport's headline event, the Dutchman seeking a record-breaking eighth world title that would take him clear of Erik De Vlaeminck.

Even if the man himself doesn't think so, Van der Poel's march to glory in Hulst is widely accepted as something of a foregone conclusion. He is unbeaten so far this winter, recording 12 wins from 12 races, after all.

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