"Think Mathieu van der Poel away and you have a crisis" – Is the future of Dutch cycling in jeopardy?

The Netherlands is synonymous with cycling, with Dutch people riding bikes to work, and stars like Mathieu van der Poel winning world championships on the road, gravel and in cyclocross. But Dutch cycling couldn’t be at risk could it?

The short answer is no, probably not, however, some believe that Dutch competitive cycling is facing a troubling trend that threatens its future. The Dutch Cycling Federation (KNWU) has noticed a decline in participation, and cycling journalist Thijs Zonneveld has voiced concerns about the state of Dutch cycling.

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“We sometimes worry about the generation that is coming,” says Joost van Wijngaarden. Fewer people are obtaining permits to race, and only a small fraction of the potential cycling talent is being nurtured.

The drop in permit holders is around 10,000, despite research suggesting there are as many as 200,000 people in the Netherlands who could be passionate cyclists. “We have an ever-shrinking pond to cast our rod in,” van Wijngaarden explains. The next Mathieu van der Poel or Puck Pieterse could be drawn to other sports like rowing or hockey because cycling has not been made attractive enough for them.

Thijs Zonneveld shares these concerns with Wielerrevue, noting that Dutch cycling has become increasingly reliant on a few standout riders. “Think of Dutch cycling without Mathieu van der Poel, and you suddenly have a near-crisis,” he said. Without Van der Poel, the sport’s profile and success would suffer immensely. It’s worth noting that the Dutchman has been in superb form over the past few seasons, as he has dominated the cobbled classics and has may rainbow jerseys to his already legendary name.

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Zonneveld warns that this dependency on a handful of riders like Van der Poel and Marianne Vos highlights how unique the period from 2013 to 2024 has been for Dutch cycling. He argues that reforms are necessary, including lowering the barrier to entry for races and solving logistical issues, such as the shortage of police motorcycles that is preventing races from happening in the Netherlands.

With cycling's future in jeopardy, van der Poel's presence is more crucial than ever. Without him, and legends like Mariane Vos, Dutch cycling risks falling into a rut it may struggle to climb out of. But, for a country with such a rich history of cycling, this is surely a problem that can be addressed adequately.