Triathlon on the horizon? Mathieu van der Poel joins Greg van Avermaet in the water

After taking an extended break, Mathieu van der Poel is now back in full training ahead of his cyclocross season. The Dutch world champion, who wrapped up his 2025 campaign after the Mountain Bike World Championships in mid-September, has not limited himself to cycling.

Recently, Van der Poel joined Greg Van Avermaet for a morning swim session, an unusual training crossover between two icons of different eras. The Belgian Olympic champion from Rio 2016 is preparing for the Triathlon World Championships in Marbella this coming Sunday, and Van der Poel decided to lend him company in the water.

“Morning swim. Getting Mathieu van der Poel into triathlon,” wrote Van Avermaet on Strava, suggesting he might be converting the Dutch superstar to his new discipline.

Van Avermaet, who retired from professional cycling in 2023, remains highly active in endurance sports. According to his Strava post, the 40-year-old Belgian swam two kilometers in about forty minutes during the session.

Even without a race number pinned on, the former Olympic gold medallist still competes regularly. This year, Van Avermaet has participated in several gravel races, including the World Championships in South Limburg, where he finished in an impressive fifth position.

While Van der Poel does not seem to have immediate plans to compete in a triathlon, he has long hinted that it’s on his bucket list. Two years ago, in a video with popular YouTuber Average Rob (Robert Van Impe), the Alpecin–Deceuninck rider made a promise: if the video reached 42,000 likes, he would one day take part in a full Ironman.

Average Rob also revealed some time ago on Play Sports’ LAMBERT & ALBERT podcast that Van der Poel had already considered entering a half Ironman (a specific type of triathlon) in Portugal. “Mathieu had almost taken part in a half Ironman in Portugal,” said Average Rob. “He was really looking into it, but for a professional cyclist, it’s simply impossible to fit into his schedule.”

He added that the Dutch rider remains serious about the idea, although not in the near future. “That’s impossible. He has promised to do a full Ironman with us one day, but I think that’s something for four, five, six, or ten years from now, after his cycling career is over. Or maybe when he’s in a quieter phase and wants to use it as training.”

Van Impe also praised Van der Poel’s natural athleticism. “He can apparently swim much better than people think. He’s a guy who can do everything well. A phenomenon.”