Mathieu van der Poel Claims Record-Tying 7th Cyclo-Cross World Title

The Dutch cyclist dominated the Liévin course, leaving rivals far behind, and equaled Eric de Vlaeminck's longstanding record.

Mathieu van der Poel secured his seventh elite cyclo-cross world championship title in Liévin, matching the record set by Eric de Vlaeminck in the 1960s and 70s.
Van der Poel took an early lead on the challenging course, employing a strategy to distance himself from competitors immediately, despite a brief setback with a tire puncture.
Belgium's Wout Van Aert, starting from the fourth row and recovering from multiple falls, claimed silver, finishing 45 seconds behind Van der Poel.
Thibau Nys, also from Belgium, completed the podium, while France’s top finishers, Fabien Doubey and Clément Venturini, placed 15th and 17th respectively.
Van der Poel described the victory as 'very special,' reflecting on his long-held dream of equaling the record and hinting at future ambitions in the sport.