"It's not my last chance" – Mathieu van der Poel insists MTB World Championship dream isn't now or never in 2025

Mathieu van der Poel is no stranger to chasing rainbows — and this Sunday, he’s back on the hunt again. Lining up for the Mountain Bike World Championships, the Dutch superstar returns to the discipline where his off-road legacy first took shape, but with a clear message: while the world title remains a key ambition, this isn’t a now-or-never moment.

“I’ve been trying for a few years,” Van der Poel admitted in the lead-up to the race. “But I don’t see this as my last chance. There are still many years ahead in which I can go for it. Still, it would be very special to become world champion now, in one of the disciplines I love most.”

It’s a measured statement from a rider who, despite already claiming world titles in cyclocross, on gravel and on the road, continues to seek glory across multiple terrains. Van der Poel’s pedigree in mountain biking is undeniable — but the elite rainbow jersey in this format has so far eluded him.

Since wrapping up a strong Tour de France campaign, Van der Poel has had his sights firmly set on the MTB Worlds. Although he squeezed in a stage win at the Renewi Tour, his training has been squarely aimed at fine-tuning for this weekend. “I’ve trained well. A week ago, I came out to the Worlds venue to train specifically and get to know the course,” he said. “I feel comfortable on it. I’ve been out riding it every day, partly because we’re at altitude here and I tend to feel that. It was important for me to adapt.”

Van der Poel was candid in assessing his last major MTB outing, where he finished sixth after a lacklustre start and a difficult day on the bike. “In Les Gets, my legs and skills just weren’t there,” he reflected. “This time, I feel a bit better. I’ve tested a lot of set-ups and lines, and I’ve now found something I feel good on. That was the main goal of this week.”

Altitude has long been a known factor in Van der Poel’s preparation, and it's something he’s taken seriously in the lead-up. "We’re racing at elevation, and I’m quite sensitive to that,” he explained. “So I made sure to spend time here and get my body used to it. That daily course recon has helped a lot — physically, and also mentally. It’s a course I enjoy."

But, as ever in mountain biking, much will depend on the start. Van der Poel is well aware of how quickly a race can be shaped — or undone — in those opening seconds. “Hopefully I’ll have some luck at the start. That’s not entirely in my control, and it wasn’t the case in Les Gets.”

His return to mountain biking — and this World Championships in particular — is a nod to unfinished business, but not desperation. “Of course I want to win this title,” he said. “But the dream doesn’t end here if I don’t. I’ll keep coming back.”

Still, for all his talk of future chances, Van der Poel knows better than anyone that opportunities at the top don’t come around every day. And if everything clicks on Sunday — the start, the legs, the lines — he could well be adding yet another rainbow jersey to his collection.