Mathieu van der Poel (Corendon-Circus) made his return to cyclocross with a victory in Sunday's Superprestige round in Ruddervoorde, and soon he will target a successful winter in cyclocross, with road racing in the spring and summer He focused on mountain biking, and then confirmed his potential Grand Tour debut at the 2020 Vuelta a España.

After missing the Superprestige, the opening three rounds of the UCI World Cup, and Friday's opening round of the DVV Trophy, the Koppenberg Cross, the 24-year-old Dutch rider is concentrating on individual titles rather than trying to add to the seven overall wins he has earned in those series.

"The World Championships is my only goal," he said. And of course the European Championships next Sunday."

Van der Poel's attempt to retain his rainbow stripes will take place in early February in Dübendorf, Switzerland. But with several months to go until then, he is now concentrating on getting up to speed--even if he has already won.

To do so, he will cancel his training camp in Spain in December and race as much as possible during that time.

"I have to make up for something," he said. 'I've had a slow start, I want to get in as many races as possible, and I won't be going to training camp in December, and I won't be going to training camp in December either, because I'm not sure I'll be able to make up for it.'

"Training camp is only after the All-Japan Championships [in mid-January], because I can miss the World Cup in Nomei on January 19. Will I also have to abstain from my father's race in Hochelheide? It's a week before the World Championships, so it has to work out."

Christophe Ludhoft, team boss of Corendon Circus, confirmed his star rider's plans in an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS, adding that an upset victory at the DVV Trophy is still possible with seven of the eight races still remaining.

"He is trying to win other races, but we are going to take him to the World Championship as economically as possible," Roodtoft said.

"Except for the DVV Trophy, he's already given up a little bit on the rankings. Because the World Championships should be fun."

"For Mathieu, he chooses to grow slowly towards the cyclocross world championships. The Winter World Championships is his main and only goal."