Van der Poel switches to golf after winning in Namur and faces a key week

Mathieu van der Poel does not usually do things like everyone else. On the very Sunday he returned to cyclocross with a significant victory at the World Cup in Namur, many assumed he would be on the bike the following Monday, accumulating training hours. However, the world champion opted for a very different plan and the day after winning on one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar, Van der Poel went straight to the golf course.

Van der Poel goes straight to golf after winning one of the toughest races

The images shared on social media showed him hitting balls alongside Belgian professional golfer Alan De Bondt, once again confirming his passion for a sport that, far from being a mere hobby, seems to be part of his unique recovery method between races. An unusual choice in the cyclocross peloton, but very consistent with the way of understanding high performance of a runner who has always charted his own path.

Van der Poel's victory in Namur was not just another win. For many, including Mathieu himself, it was probably one of the most complicated races to kick off the season. The Citadel course, technical, demanding, and unforgiving of mistakes, is not exactly the ideal setting to debut after several weeks without competing in cyclocross.

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Additionally, he was still in the process of building his form. Van der Poel arrived without the specific competition rhythm that rivals like Thibau Nys, Michael Vanthourenhout, or Lars van der Haar had accumulated. Even so, the Dutchman was able to endure, read the race, and finish at the crucial moment to take a victory as valuable as it was symbolic.

After the race, Adrie van der Poel did not go unnoticed. The father of the world champion did not hesitate to "make hay while the sun shines" with statements that quickly sparked debate. In his opinion, Namur represented one of the best, if not the best, opportunities for Thibau Nys to defeat Mathieu this season.

According to Adrie, the short, explosive, and technical circuit fit perfectly with Nys's qualities and also coincided with a version of his son still far from peak form. If he was unable to win here, the options will be significantly reduced as Van der Poel accumulates races and sensations. A cold, direct analysis that reinforces the idea that the hierarchy in cyclocross may have changed again in just one race.

The "Van der Poel effect," more visible than ever

Namur not only provided sporting spectacle. It also confirmed something that many are openly calling the "Van der Poel effect." The Belgian event recorded a historic attendance record, with over 12,000 spectators passing through the circuit throughout the day, a figure never seen before at the Citadel.

The organization did not hesitate to attribute a large part of this success to the Dutchman's return. From the moment his presence was confirmed, ticket sales skyrocketed, once again demonstrating that Van der Poel not only elevates the competitive level but is also a true magnet for the public. His impact goes far beyond the sporting aspect and reinforces the media value of cyclocross when its great stars are on the starting line.

Key week: double World Cup and first face-off with Van Aert

After his victory and golf session, Mathieu van der Poel now faces a particularly intense week. This weekend he will compete in two consecutive World Cup events: on Saturday, December 20, in Antwerp, and on Sunday, December 21, in Koksijde.

All signs point to Antwerp being the first major showdown of the season between Van der Poel and Wout van Aert, a clash that always elevates the tension and interest in cyclocross to another level. With Namur already in the bag and the machinery in motion, it remains to be seen how far Mathieu can go in this winter campaign that, as he himself has made clear, is carefully planned with a single major objective on the horizon.