Eight world championship titles. No one like Mathieu Van der Poel, who today in Hulst, in his native Netherlands, writes a historic page in the cyclocross hall of fame. Before him, the record belonged to Belgian Eric De Vlaeminck, brother of the great Roger, stuck at seven titles. Van der Poel surpasses him and definitively establishes himself as the most successful ever in the discipline. The Dutch superstar beats his compatriot Del Grosso, at his first world championship with the elite after two consecutive under-23 titles (2024-2025), and the Belgian son of a cycling legend Nys. An excellent performance by Italian Filippo Fontana, who secures a great and well-deserved fifth place.

Van Der Poel's journey to his eighth Elite title began in Tabor in 2015 and continued with triumphs in Bogense 2019, Dubendorf 2020, Ostenda 2021, Hoogerheide 2023, again in Tabor 2024, and Lievin 2025. Additionally, Mathieu had also won the junior title in Koksjide in 2012 and the Under-23 title in Louisville in 2013.