National coach Koos Moerenhout can count on Mathieu van der Poel for the upcoming European Championships. The world champion had to give up last Sunday in the Renewi Tour due to a minor knee injury, but can now train again without pain.
The 29-year-old classics specialist hit his knee in the time trial on the second day of the Renewi Tour, which forced him to abandon the race two days later. However now the good news come that the damage is not severe and the Dutchman doesn't need to fear for his goals later in the 2024.
Van der Poel has now recovered from his minor knee complaints. "Mathieu did not cycle for two days and then started training again. He was able to do that without pain," his team Alpecin-Deceuninck told De Telegraaf.
Van der Poel therefore does not have to fear for his participation in the EC. On Sunday 15 September he hopes to make a bid for the European title in Hasselt and surroundings. Then he should normally make an appearance at the Tour of Luxembourg (September 18-22) and the last big objective in Mathieu van der Poel's season should came at the World Championships in Zurich (September 29). If everything goes well, it's not impossible the Ducthman might give at a go at the Il Lombardia which is likely to offer a much kinder profile than in normal years.