Mathieu van der Poel's weekend MTB adventure ended in disaster and with a fracture in the scaphoid. However not all is bad for the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider, who shouldn't miss out on too much training and with the Tour de France participation seemingly out of risk.
It was a difficult return to a discipline where he still has plenty ambitions, including - until this weekend perhaps - the rainbow jersey later this year. He crashed two times, one alongside Spanish rider Davide Valero with whom he collided, and the second by himself. He abandoned the race after a few laps, and travelled to Belgium for a complete health assessment today.
"Following his double crash during the WHOOP UCI MTB World Series on Sunday in Nové Město, Mathieu van der Poel has been diagnosed with a minor avulsion fracture of the scaphoid bone, indicative of ligament damage to the wrist," Alpecin-Deceuninck confirmed.
"This type of injury requires a cautious and carefully monitored recovery process. The timeline for resuming training and competition will depend on the evolution of swelling and pain over the coming days. At this stage, it is therefore premature to provide a definitive prognosis or to outline the trajectory of the coming weeks. Consequently, Mathieu van der Poel will not travel to La Plagne for the first days of the planned altitude training camp".
The Tour de France however, unlike what had been feared, doesn't seem to be at risk. The Criterium du Dauphiné may be scraped from the plan, but the most positive scenario would still include the French race:
"The injury will be subject to continued and intensive medical evaluation throughout the week. Further assessments, scheduled towards the end of the week, may offer greater clarity regarding his program and the potential for participation in the Critérium du Dauphiné".
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🏥 Medical update on @mathieuvdpoel #AlpecinDeceuninck #MVDP pic.twitter.com/adfrJXUAxz
— Alpecin-Deceuninck Cycling Team (@AlpecinDCK) May 26, 2025
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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