"I have a plan of 10 to 15 races" - Van der Poel hints at Cyclocross season plans

Mathieu van der Poel has begun properly focusing on road racing, but has nevertheless managed to combine it with MTB and also Cyclocross, where he grew into a superstar of the sport. He'll be racing off-road this winter, and has hinted at some plans.

"...I will race anyway. I don't know when or where yet, but just like last year I have a plan of 10 to 15 races," he told Sporza. Not racing a whole season as some of the purists, the Dutchman will follow a specific calendar, likely building up towards the World Championships as he's done in the last few years.

Last year the plan was the same, however things didn't go as planned: "Last year I only rode one and a half cyclocross because of those back problems," he said. His back issues had appeared earlier in the year, and after two months of break, he returned right after christmas with a second place in Derdemonde. The following day he was at the start in Heusden-Zolder, but abandoned the race due to back pain. A week later he was forced to take several weeks off the bike to give his body total rest - before restarting the work.

He's hoping to get back on track over the 2022-2023 season. "At least 10 crosses is now the intention," he concluded.