Van der Poel extends World Cup lead over Thibau Nys, lands tenth consecutive cyclocross victory this season.
Mathieu Van Der Poel celebrates as he wins wins the Benidorm round of the cyclocross World Cup on Sunday 18 January 2026 (Photo: David Pintens / Belga Mag via AFP)
Published January 18, 2026 09:58AM
Another win, another huge milestone in sight. Mathieu van der Poel moved to within one victory of Sven Nys’ all time World Cup win record on Sunday, obliterating his rivals in the Benidorm round of the series.
The world champion originally said he wouldn’t take part but had a late change of heart this week. He wasted little time in stamping his mark, tracking Alpecin-Deceuninck teammate Tibor Del Grosso on the opening lap and then attacking his compatriot on the uphill climb to the line.
He continued riding aggressively from there, adding to his advantage lap after lap. He eased off in the closing minutes and ultimately ended the race 28 seconds ahead of Thibau Nys. Felipe Orts had clung onto Nys wheel in the closing laps and took third, a further four seconds back.
He was beaming to finish on the podium in his home country, but Van der Poel was the day’s undisputed champion.
“I didn’t expect to be alone for so long. Normally it is always decided in the last lap here,” he said. “I thought this year would be the same. The conditions were a bit different.
“Tibor did a very good first lap. I saw a little gap and decided to immediately go for it. I pushed for one or two laps really hard and hoped that riders behind me were a bit looking at each other, and that is what happened, I think.”
Van der Poel likely could have finished a minute or more ahead. He was 48 seconds ahead of Nys and Orts at the bell, but backed off to fully soak up the atmosphere and pulled a wheelie as he crossed the line.
His tenth race win of the season has boosted his all-time World Cup victories to 49, just one off the record of Sven Nys. With the final two rounds of the series being held in Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide next weekend, he could well set the all-time mark by then.
Nys pondering what might have been
Mathieu van der Poel (r) and Thibau Nys were the two best riders in the race (Photo: David Pintens / Belga Mag via AFP)
Van der Poel is very much focused on the upcoming road season and considered prioritising an endurance block of training rather than lining out in Benidorm. Nys would have been happy with that; he started the day just ten points behind the world champion in the World Cup standings and would have relished the chance to pick up points.
However Van der Poel’s late decision to ride changed everything, and when Del Grosso put in a storming first lap, he rode his coat tails before surging ahead.
That fast start saw Del Grosso fade and be passed by Nys before the end of lap two. Both riders ultimately got caught up in a chasing group and ended up looking at each other rather than really knuckling down to the pursuit.
Orts comes from a town a little over 10km from the race course and, fired up by that, pushed clear of the rest on lap 5. “I attacked in the correct moment and I could open a small gap,” he later said.
Nys then attacked in pursuit and, using his superior climbing abilities on the road section, closed the gap to him shortly afterwards.
The Belgian gestured to the Spaniard to take his wheel. “It’s his home race,” Nys explained. “For me, it was also the perfect time to push on. He was riding with me, so I thought, ‘it’s nice to bring him,’ so that he could enjoy the cross for his own audience.”
Orts appreciated the gesture and his third place. “It is unbelievable for me. I am really happy because everybody supports me,” he smiled. “To take a podium at home is absolutely crazy and I am really happy.”
As for Nys, he accepted second place but wondered if he could have been closer to Van der Poel.
“I’m a little disappointed that I was too far back in the first lap,” he said. “I felt like I had pretty good legs. Maybe I could have followed Mathieu a little longer.”
He’ll have two opportunities next weekend but with Van der Poel’s World Cup advantage now doubling to 20 points, the series seems all but decided.
Still, Nys is clearly emerging as best of the rest in advance of the world championships in two weeks’ time.
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