Havana, February 4 (PL) -- Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel won today his sixth cyclo-cross world title, after winning in the Czech circuit of Tabor, venue of the cyclo-cross world championship.

Van der Poel had a 37-second advantage over his compatriot Joris Nieuwenhuis, and the podium was completed by Belgian Michael Vanthourenhout, more than a minute behind the winner.

After his two great rivals, the Belgian Wout Van Aert (the only one who beat him this winter) and the British Tom Pidcock (world champion in 2022), decided not to participate in this championship to prepare for the road season, the triumph of the winner was expected.

This title brings the 29-year-old grandson of the legendary Raymond Poulidor. closer to the record of seven crowns achieved by Belgian Eric De Vlaeminck between 1966 and 1973.

However, Van der Poel recently commented that surpassing this mark is not a goal, as he prefers to add to his road record, which includes last year's road scepter and victories in Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix, two of cycling's five 'Monuments'.