Where is Mathieu van der Poel? Alpecin-Deceuninck boss shares update on World Champion's return to cyclocross
Cyclocross
Six-time world cyclocross champion Mathieu van der Poel has
not competed since the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Besançon on 29th December.
The Alpecin-Deceuninck star has been sidelined due to a rib injury sustained
during the Azencross Loenhout.
Van der Poel is currently in Spain, focusing on his recovery
and preparing for his return to competition. In an update provided to Wielerflits,
Alpecin-Deceuninck team manager Christoph Roodhooft shared positive news about
the rider's progress.
“Everything is fine. For what he has to do there now,
training on the road, everything is fine. He is training on the road now, that
was also the only option,” Roodhooft explained.
“He is training, and his injury is recovering,” the team
boss added. Despite the injury, Van der Poel’s schedule in the lead-up to the
Cyclocross World Championships in early February remains unchanged. He is still
expected to race in the doubleheader events at Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide.
“Yes, we assume that,” confirmed Roodhooft.
Dutch national coach Gerben de Knegt also provided insights
into Van der Poel’s current state. “The latest update is that he is doing well.
The burden is not too bad, and he has, if he didn't have that already, a lot of
morale,” De Knegt said.
The coach emphasised that he is giving Van der Poel space as
part of their agreed approach. “I don't have much contact with him, no. I leave
him alone a bit. That's also our agreement, that I'm not going to bother him
with everything. But he also has to do it again at the World Cup later. I have
confidence in that, but it still has to happen,” De Knegt noted.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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