The debut of Van der Poel on the road could be earlier than expected

Mathieu van der Poel is at the best moment of his sports career, and the Dutchman does not intend to let the opportunity to fully take advantage of it pass by. If this weekend he signed up at the last minute for the Cyclocross World Cup race that he won effortlessly despite arriving at the circuit by bike after training in the morning, after the race he hinted that he could bring forward the start of his road season.

The opening weekend could also be Van der Poel's debut in the 2026 season

Although he is usually brief with words, Mathieu van der Poel was euphoric after the resounding victory he achieved yesterday in the CX World Cup in Benidorm, which puts him in a strong position to win the overall championship.

Even though he still has three cyclocross races left in his calendar for this muddy season: the two remaining World Cup races and the World Championship, the Alpecin-Premier Tech rider is already focused on the road campaign, and after being asked about his road calendar following his victory in Benidorm, he hinted at the possibility of being at the first of the races of the Opening Weekend of the classics: Omloop Het Niewsblad, the official start of the cobbled classics.

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Interestingly, despite being one of the best classics riders in history, Mathieu van der Poel has never participated in one of the most iconic spring cobbled classics, we remind you, a mini Tour of Flanders that ascends the mythical Muur-Kapelmuur as the climax of its route. “I have it in mind, but I haven't decided yet,” Van der Poel explained.

If he attends this race, in addition to the possibility of adding a race to his palmarès that he does not yet have, we would enjoy the extra thrill of a duel against his great rival Wout van Aert, who a few days ago revealed his calendar which includes this race as the start of his road season.

However, bringing forward the start of his season means that with the Cyclocross World Championship in Hulst taking place on February 1 and the Omloop Het Niewsblad on February 28, there is barely a month between the road season and the cyclocross season, which could undoubtedly complicate the preparation for the always priority events of the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.