Mathieu van der Poel will not defend his Dutch U23 Cyclocross Champion title. Instead, the 19-year-old top talent will compete with the pros to win the honour of wearing his national bands for s season. "It will be very difficult to win the title there, but that’s a challenge I like," says the BKCP-Powerplus-crosser to WielerFlits. Next winter he is considering a whole season racing against the pros.

Van der Poel can rce at the U23 level until the National Championships of 2017. However, the son of six-time Dutch cyclocross champion Adri van der Poel is clear: "I want to start racing against the elite." The reason is simple: "Should I be at U23 level, I cant show my jersey often as I only rode once race this season at that category, which was the World Cup round in Hoogerheide. And that is unfortunate."

The young man continues: "But I suppose the red-white-blue that come with the pro win- what will be very difficult- I can show the jersey more frequently. I’d rather try that than not be able to wear my jersey at all in the U23 category."