Where is Mathieu van der Poel? Alpecin-Deceuninck boss shares update on World Champion's return to 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.