Mathieu van der Poel the triathlete? Cycling star teases debut in a new sports discipline

Mathieu van der Poel is one of the most versatile and successful men in pro cycling, but even away from it, he is a sports man. An active golf player, and potential triathlete try-out too soon. On Instagram he has once again teased a possible participation in an Ironman triathlon, motivated by his close friends.

Youtuber Average Rob, in the Lamber & Albert podcast, has already previously invited the Dutchman to compete in one this November, something van der Poel seemingly is eager to do. “Mathieu almost competed in a Half Ironman in Portugal. He was really looking into it, but for a professional cyclist, it’s not something you can just fit in.” However the idea is planted and at some point in the future, it is nearly certain to happen.

"He did promise to do a full Ironman with us someday, but I think that’s something for four, five, six, or ten years from now. For after his career. Or when he’s in a more relaxed phase and wants to use it as training. Apparently, he’s a much better swimmer than people think. He’s a guy who can do everything well. A phenomenon.”

However the chances of us seeing Van der Poel, an active runner - as seen on Strava frequently, but also due to his cyclocross obligations - take on a triathlon have spiked once again as training partner Freddy Ovett posted a video on Instagram with the caption "MVDP confirms that he will do an Ironman triathlon if this reel gets 100k likes". At the time of writing, 19 hours after posting, it is up to 58.000 likes. There is a clear interesting from the Alpecin-Deceuninck in trying out a new sports discipline - even though within pro cycling, he already thrives in four disciplines at the same time, and has been a World Champion in three of them (road, cyclocross and gravel).