Cycling phenomenon Mathieu van der Poel won a sixth UCI cyclocross world championship title on Sunday to add to his road race world title from Glasgow last year. He hinted it could be his last cross season, now turning his attention to the road. He likely starts his season at the 2024 Milano-Sanremo classic.

The 29-year-old Dutch powerhouse also won two of road cycling's most revered races last season at the ultra-long 270km Milano-Sanremo and on the cobbled farm roads of Paris-Roubaix.

Van Der Poel's Unwavering Dominance

Van der Poel clinched his latest cyclocross world title with a commanding performance in Tábor, leading the race from start to finish. "It would have been a shame to miss out on the world title after such a season. But a race still has to be run, and the top favourite has often not won," Van der Poel reflected on his victory.

Reflecting On A Perfect Season

With 13 victories out of 14 races this season, Van der Poel's dominance in cyclocross was nearly unmatched. "Apart from the world title and the fun, there is not much left for me to gain in cyclocross. My focus is increasingly shifting to the road," he shared with Het Nieuwsblad, hinting at a potential shift in his career focus towards road racing. Despite his success, the decision to possibly step away from cyclocross isn't solely his to make, acknowledging the complex decision-making process involving his team and the financial implications

Strategy And Equipment: Keys To Success

Van der Poel also highlighted the importance of strategy and equipment in his win, attributing part of his success to his Canyon bike and careful race management. "Cross in the winter is something that takes a lot of energy. If it turns out that I can perform even better on the road by skipping cyclocross, then I will do that," Van der Poel said post-race, showcasing his pragmatic approach to his career and future plans

Van Der Poel's Road Schedule Begins With Milano-Sanremo

This week, the newly crowned cyclocross world champion is taking a well-deserved week's holiday, aiming to distance himself from racing thoughts as much as possible. It is confirmed that he will not participate in any race this month, dismissing rumors of his appearance in the Volta ao Algarve which also includes Wout Van Aert and Remco Evenepoel.

As for Mathieu van der Poel's return to road racing, the specifics are yet to be finalized with several options being considered. However, it is almost certain that his first road race of the season will be in Italy. Although the exact race will be announced in two weeks, it is highly likely that Van der Poel will commence his road season on March 16 at Milano-Sanremo. This Monument race, which he won last year with an outstanding performance, stands as the probable starting point of his road campaign in the rainbow jersey.

Meanwhile, other top cyclists like Evenepoel and Van Aert will have already begun their seasons, with Evenepoel participating in the Figueira Champions Classic and the Volta ao Algarve, and Van Aert starting his season in the Clasica Almeria, among other races. The cycling world eagerly awaits the return of Van der Poel to see if he can replicate his impressive performance from last year at Milano-Sanremo.