Mathieu van der Poel’s winter campaign has come to an end after winning his sixth cyclocross world title in Tabor on Sunday, and the Dutchman is now preparing for the 2024 road season, which may begin in mid-March. Van der Poel is taking a week off skiing following the dominant defense of his rainbow jersey, his 161st elite ‘cross victory, and may not return until March 16 to defend his Milan-San Remo title. The Volta ao Algarve (February 14-18) had previously been suggested as his season-opening race, alongside Remco Evenepoel, Wout van Aert, and Tom Pidcock.

However, that strategy, which included Tirreno-Adriatico (March 4-10), Milan-San Remo, and the cobbled Classics later in April, concluding in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, appears to have been abandoned. Instead, according to reports from Het Nieuwsblad, the world champion, and his Alpecin-Deceuninck team are still deciding where he will begin his season. But Italy appears to be the most likely to host his 2024 bow.

The Belgian team is expected to disclose the actual location before the end of February, with Strade Bianche (March 2) also in consideration, along with the two other Italian World Tour races. However, Het Nieuwsblad adds that the most likely starting point is San Remo, where Van der Poel won his third career title last year.

The Italian race is expected to be one of his key targets of the spring as he looks to add to his extensive palmares while wearing the rainbow stripes. The Tour of Flanders (March 31), which he won in 2020 and 2022, and Paris-Roubaix (April 7), where he won solo last year, are both clear goals for his spring season. Another Monument in the form of Liege-Bastogne-Liege could be on his spring schedule. The 29-year-old Dutchman finished sixth in his only participation in 2020. However, his remaining first half of 2024 has yet to be confirmed.

Van der Poel’s summer plans are likewise uncertain, with the one certainty being a run in the road race at the Paris Olympic Games on August 3, 13 days after the Tour de France concludes. Whether the Dutch cyclist returns to the Tour appears to be determined by whether he also competes in the Paris cross-country mountain bike event. The race will take place on July 29, just eight days after the Tour concludes in Nice.

My ambitions in the Classics won’t change. After that, I’ll see how my form is and if it’s good, there’s a chance I could ride Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the Dutchman said in his earlier interview.