cyclo-cross superstar Mathieu van der Poel dramatically reversed course on Sunday, announcing he will compete in the Benidorm world Cup round despite previously stating he would skip the event to prioritize endurance training.

Van der Poel’s Last-Minute U-Turn Shakes Up Cyclo-Cross

  • Van der Poel initially announced he would miss the Benidorm race to focus on road endurance.
  • A strong week of training prompted a change of heart,with the Alpecin-Premier tech rider confirming his participation via social media.
  • Van der Poel currently leads the World Cup standings with a perfect record of five wins from five starts.
  • The Benidorm course has been modified with a challenging uphill start and a 100-meter sandpit.

The Alpecin-Premier Tech team announced via social media that “After a strong week of training, the urge to race was simply too great,” confirming Van der Poel’s participation in the sole spanish race in the World Cup cyclo-cross series. This proclamation came just two days after Van der Poel said on Thursday that he “really needed the endurance training I missed last month with all that cyclo-cross racing, now that I’m looking forward to the Spring Classics.”

What makes Van der Poel so dominant in cyclo-cross this season? He has won every single event he’s entered, solidifying his position as the clear favorite in Benidorm and beyond.

van der Poel’s name was already on the provisional startlist, anticipating a potential change of heart. The final decision to race was made less than 24 hours before the Sunday afternoon event.

The 2023 Benidorm race saw Van der Poel claim victory in the inaugural edition. He finished fifth in 2024 despite a crash and did not participate last year. This year, riders will face a more demanding course featuring a new uphill start-finish zone instantly following a set of stairs. The previous finish line section has been replaced with a 100-metre-long sandpit, with organizers aiming for a more tactical and slower race.

Currently, Van der Poel tops the World Cup standings with 200 points, achieved through five wins in five starts.Thibau Nys trails in second place with 190 points,while Michael Vanthourenhout holds third with 187 points.

Van der Poel’s schedule includes next weekend’s World Cup rounds in Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide,leading up to his attempt to secure a record-breaking eighth cyclo-cross world title in Hulst on February 1.

Despite the late decision,Van der Poel is widely expected to be the favorite on Sunday in Benidorm – a position he’s become accustomed to all winter.