How Mathieu van der Poel can qualify for the Olympics no matter his result at Mountain Bike World Championships

Mathieu van der Poel has made no secret of his desire to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics in the Mountain Bike. It was thought that to ensure that would happen, the Dutchman would have to win the World Championship race, however that may no longer be the case.

It is van der Poel's Dutch compatriot, Tom Schellekens that may have inadvertently secured his more illustrious fellow Dutchman an Olympic spot due to his impressive result of fifth at the U23 mountain bike World Championships. How? Let us explain for you.

As mentioned, Schellekens finished fifth in the under-23 race. With three of the four riders finishing above him being from the countries of Great Britain, France and the United States, the Netherlands were the highest-placed nation not yet secured of their place at the Olympics, launching themselves up the rankings.

This would gift the Netherlands a free starting ticket for the Mountain Bike race at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Surely that spot would go to Mathieu van der Poel? Of course, only time will tell and there is still time for the rankings to fluctuate further but at this current point in time, things look positive.