Mathieu van der Poel reveals broken rib ahead of World Cup Maasmechelen return: “It is still not going so well”
Cyclocross
Six-time world cyclocross champion Mathieu van der Poel is back in action today at the World Cup Maasmechelen. The Dutchman has been absent from several World Cup races due to a crash at Azencross Loenhout, a race he still managed to win. However, it has now been revealed that his absence over the past month was due to a broken rib.
Speaking to Wielerflits, Van der Poel explained, "It is still not going so well, it is still not completely connected so that still causes some discomfort. But it is what it is. I can't change anything so I hope the pain is not too bad."
The rib fracture has not fully healed, meaning Van der Poel continues to feel discomfort as he makes his return to competition. Despite this, the reigning world champion has been training in Spain in preparation for the upcoming spring classics, even opting to skip the cyclocross race in Benidorm. "That training period was very important for me in the run-up to the spring," he says.
Van der Poel's return to cyclocross comes after several weeks without racing, leaving him uncertain about his form heading into Maasmechelen. "This weekend has not much to do with the next weekend for me," he said, referencing the upcoming World Championships. "It would be nice to go into next week with a good feeling today, but being top today and tomorrow offers no guarantees."
It must be nice to be able to win a race in dominating fashion like that, then imply that you still couldn't go flat out because of a recent injury.
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- As has been said many times, Jonas is a diesel, never going to focus on one day races, Tadej is a roadie, never going to do MTB or CX.Mistermaumau10-03-2025
- Unless you can ignore the winner to enjoy the rest if the race, hence the comment about using imagination. Easier to do during a race than retrospectively when you’ve discovered someone gets their titles, medals, prize money cancelled and disqualified. Of course, it helps if camera crew look for the action, some channels do better at that than others.Mistermaumau10-03-2025
- I think an article dedicated to Emielien Jeannière is also in order today, amazing performance. Let’s not forget that almost a decade ago he was also 2nd in an important race beating a certain TP.Mistermaumau10-03-2025
- More or less how I see it too. Jonas himself warned publicly 6 months in advance. We were warned of the slippery dry gravel BEFORE the race do riders had no excuse not to take it into account. It’s not for nothing Moho warned Tadej not to follow him downhill in MSR, not every rider has the same skills and each has to know his limit. Tadej was too focused on riding with Pidcock to check his limits. After that, yes of course in a peleton if one goes down (for whatever reason) in a critical place, they’re likely to take others within their limits with them, can’t do very much about that without destroying the sport, that will always be a risk to live with. It’s the same as with development in cars, drivers are made to feel safer so take more risk and become more dangerous to others.Mistermaumau10-03-2025
- I agree with everything he says about rider safety related to bikes and the riders themselves. Every bike company talks abou how many watts have saved off a 40k. Clothing is more aero. Materials are refined and made lighter than ever. All of which means more crashes. And then look at Jonas' tragic crash from a year ago. A bummer of a situation, yes - but Jumbo allegedly emailed the organizer about the bad roads. The organizer keeps them in. So Jonas knew there were bad roads, the organizer keeps them in - but who forced Jonas to go so fast or ride that corner in a group situation? back down, take a different line. races are rarely won on the downhills, they're lost. the organizers can only do so much. the tour of poland situation or leaving cars on the road IS bad. but rough roads? the riders need to own this too. As Tadej said, I was going to fast, and I crashed.mij10-03-2025
- Naaahhh... You are fantastic at all types of cycling, only need time to practice. I have seen videos of Tadej when was a child performing as a circus tightrope walker on a unicycle.
maria2024202410-03-2025 - I'm sure we have other top riders Mr M. All I was saying that it is a spectacle to watch this pair go head to head in races and grand tours. You always seem to want make more of what is said as though what is said isn't good enough and then off you go into a long discourse telling us about your extended thoughts on the subject?Cyclingsbestfan10-03-2025
- Yes, you're right. Il Lombardia actually is a monument for climbers. On paper, it should suit Jonas.
KerisVroom10-03-2025 - What are you talking about? Of course it’s still interesting when neither is there. I didn’t say anything to contradict that. Weird and baseless accusation and statement. I said Grand Tour GC would be less interesting with only one of them. They perform head and shoulders above the rest but can beat other. If only one was present then the interest in grand tour GC is less since they’d likely dominate the field. Competition is fun. If neither are there then the field is together much closer like at the Vuelta last year. GC was fun the whole way through. I think you should assess your own attitude and assumptions when communicating with others ;)Evan10-03-2025
- That's true, however there are hilly/mountainous one day races that Jonas doesn't compete in. Ardenes, autumn Italian racesvappaxbipmv10-03-2025