Van der Poel may change up plans next year: "That's a goal I've had for ages"

"I was very focused on a good first part of the year with the spring classics. It was almost the best it could ever have been," the former world champion began his retrospective. There were also further wins in the fall, including a rainbow jersey. "Winning the gravel World Championship was a great ending to the year."

Still, there could only be one real highlight for the 29-year-old Dutchman. "Winning the Ronde van Vlaanderen-Paris Roubaix double in one season was very special." During both displays of power, he rode around in the rainbow jersey, making the victories more beautiful for Van der Poel. He lost that jersey to Tadej Pogacar in Zurich at the end of September. "At the World Championship, I tried to defend my title as best I could. Pogacar is not a bad successor. With his spectacular year, he deserves it," said the Dutchman.

So he did not prolong his world road title, but with the iconic double in the spring, he won two more Monuments. Add his previous victories in Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders, plus Milan-Sanremo in 2023, and the Dutchman went from four to six wins in the Monuments this year. So, the calendar year 2024 can also claim high ratings, according to Van der Poel himself. "I would give it a nine. I could hardly do more, and I did everything I could. I'm pleased with how everything went."

After looking back extensively, Van der Poel also anticipates next season. In this regard, the plans will be similar to this year's plans. "It will be similar because the results are progressing well. One of the big goals will be to try to add another Monument to my palmares," the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider explained.

What might be different next year is that Van der Poel is considering a return to mountain biking. The Dutchman already became world champion in cyclo-cross, on the road and recently on gravel, but never on a mountain bike. "I do miss that. It's a goal I've had for ages, and I think it will be part of my plans," the Dutchman refers to the World Mountain Bike Championships, scheduled for September 2025 in Switzerland.