OFFICIAL: Wrist fracture for Mathieu van der Poel, but Tour e France is not yet at risk

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".