"The Vuelta a Espana still a possibility" for Mathieu van der Poel ahead of World Championships

Currently closing out his fourth Tour de France appearance, world champion Mathieu van der Poel still has a busy summer ahead of him in the coming months, what with the Olympic Games and a defence of his World Championship crown. Could a Vuelta a Espana debut be added to the calendar also?

“I still have to see if I will stay in Belgium or if I will go back to Spain (altitude camp ed.). That depends a bit on how I feel and what the training schedule still looks like," van der Poel says in conversation with Wielerflits about his plans for the short time between the Tour de France's end and the Olympic road race. "It depends a bit on that. I still have to do some specific work after three weeks. I did that last year after the Tour, that is still necessary.”

Whilst van der Poel has been uncharacteristically quiet over the last three weeks, the Dutchman is confident the level he's building into his legs will ensure that at the Olympic Games and World Championships, he will come good. "That's exactly why there has to be some intensity next week. Then you have to think about the classic VO2max exercises and some sprints. No, that's not fun," laughs Van der Poel. "They actually hurt the most after you've gotten used to a monotonous pace right after the Tour, and then have to do that again. Those aren't fun workouts..."

As mentioned though, between the Olympics and the Worlds, there is space for a potential Vuelta a Espana debut. "That is still a question mark," says the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider. "The Vuelta a Espana was a possibility. It still is. But we keep that open until after the Games."

At the World Championship in Zurich however, van der Poel will begin as the man to beat as reigning world champion. “It will be extremely tough in any case. But I will do everything I can to try to defend my title," he concludes. "The year after that it will be a different matter. I don’t think I have much to look for there. So it would be great if I can hopefully try to defend my title as well as possible this year.”