Van der Poel’s earnings this winter show there’s a lot more to CX than a muddy field and the smell of frites.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Updated December 30, 2025 07:37AM
Mathieu van der Poel is raking in cash as fast as he’s raking in victories in his winter cyclocross joyride.
According to Het Nieuwsblad, the Dutch dominator has already won €21,750 ($25,600) from CX this off-season.
With six victories in six, Van der Poel is cashing an average of €3,625 per race. And with some ‘crosses finishing in as little as 50 minutes, that’s an hourly rate that would do an elite legal partner proud.
OK, so cyclocross isn’t the biggest money-spinner in pro cycling.
Winning a stage at the Tour de France banks €11,000 ($13,000). Taking the cobblestone trophy at Paris-Roubaix – something MVDP has done three times – earns a chunky €30,000 paycheck ($35,300).
In reality, €21,750 is loose change for “Mr. €4.0 million per year” MVDP.
However, his CX haul shows there’s a lot more to the Belgian winter than a bunch of muddy fields and beer tents.
Van der Poel the most efficient earner in CX
Thibau Nys has won most this winter but has raced twice as much as MVDP. (Photo: Marcel van Dorst/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The bulk of Van der Poel’s winter cash-grab comes from the UCI World Cup. The premier ‘cross series dishes out €5,000 for a win.
MVDP has already hoovered $20k by winning four World Cups, and he could earn a further €15k from the three that remain on his 2025-26 schedule.
The remaining €1,750 in Van der Poel’s purse comes from €1,400 for Monday’s win in Loenhout, and €350 his rout of Hofstade last week. The superstar of CX will likely have bagged some undisclosed appearance fees, too.
While Van der Poel’s earnings are impressive, he hasn’t actually won the most of the men’s field.
Thibau Nys and Michael Vanthourenhout top the charts at €25,110 and €22,255 respectively, albeit after starting 13 and 21 races.
Cyclocross loose change
Van der Poel’s winnings in CX are loose change vs. the road, but he will likely receive a larger proportion of them. (Photo: JASPER JACOBS / Belga / AFP via Getty Images)
The prizes on offer in cyclocross are significantly smaller than on the road.
However, riders like Van der Poel, Nys, and Wout van Aert will likely see a larger proportion of their CX winnings deposited into their bank accounts.
For example, Van der Poel would split his earnings from the Tour de France across seven Alpecin-Deceuninck teammates and scores of team staff. In cyclocross, he might be supported by only a small handful of team mechanics, soigneurs, and a press officer.
Plus, let’s not forget the 30-year-old lover of luxury typically drives himself to these backwater Belgian fields in a Lamborghini.
CX serves him fast, easy cash.
Spectator apologizes after ‘unintentional’ handlebar swipe
Van der Poel’s race was almost derailed by a fan swiping at his handlebars. (Photo: Discovery / TNT)
Van der Poel is using the early CX season to tune his engine for a shot at a record-breaking eighth world title. The winter intensity also puts rockets in his heels for his spring showdowns with Tadej Pogačar.
And he really is making ‘cross look like a training camp with his incredible dominance.
However, it’s not always without drama.
He was “vaped” last week in Hofstade and knocked off-balance by the hand of an over-excited spectator on Monday in Loenhout.
The offending CX fan apologized to MVDP after the race on Monday.
“I really have nothing against Mathieu van der Poel. Now I feel so guilty – it wasn’t my intention at all,” they told Sporza. “I love cyclocross very much, so this is the last thing I wanted to happen.
“I would like to apologise to Mathieu once again,” the spectator said Monday evening.
Van der Poel dismissed Monday’s incident as “unintentional” in his winner’s interview in Loenhout.
He was likely just thinking about how he’ll spend his latest pay packet.