"Mathieu doesn't have to do it; but he enjoys it" - David van der Poel on his brother's MTB passion
Mountain Bike
This Sunday, September 14, Mathieu van der Poel faces the main goal of his 2025 season: the Mountain Bike World Championships. The Dutchman wants to get the only rainbow jersey that is missing in his collection (he's already won on road in 2023, gravel in 2024 and his seven cyclocross titles don't require further introduction). Although it won't be easy, the excitement of competing in the event is sky-high. His brother, David van der Poel, explains why he is so motivated.
"If Mathieu gets a go on a Mountain Bike bike, cycling will have a happy rider. If he could choose what to ride for fun, that would be his favorite," the former pro rider began in an interview for Sporza.
Although he has won Milano-Sanremo, Paris-Roubaix, a stage of the Tour de France and worn the yellow jersey, for Mathieu van der Poel, as has been said, nothing is as important as the fight for Mountain Bike rainbow jersey.
"At the beginning of his career, the road didn't interest him. Mountain biking allows him to combine the best of both worlds: technique and intense effort. This is perhaps the most underrated discipline in cycling. You have to devote a lot of time and energy to it. Mathieu sometimes gives it his all," added David about his brother's passion for MTB.
Mathieu's wish has always been to combine different disciplines.
In addition to the above, David van der Poel also reveals that Mathieu always had in mind the goal of being able to combine all disciplines. There has been a lot of criticism that the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider hardly thinks about mountain biking, but his brother explains why that is a lie.
Mathieu van der Poel tries to excel in all disciplines
"With his prestige, he couldn't just focus on mountain biking. His team and sponsors also have an influence, but the variety keeps him in shape. He becomes vulnerable because everyone watches him. He doesn't have to do it; he does it because he enjoys it. That makes him special," he continued.
The 4 rainbow jerseys (road, gravel, cyclocross and mountain bike) are on everyone's lips. But what does David van der Poel think about it?
"World titles in 4 men's disciplines? That would be unique. It keeps him busy and motivates him enormously. He puts a lot of time into it and it would give him enormous satisfaction. He enjoys it very much. Even with all his titles, he's still playing and experimenting with mountain biking. That's rare. It may seem contradictory, but he really wants this. That's what motivates him," he concluded.
The men's cross-country race will be the culmination of the five-day world championships, with start planned for 13:30 local time (CET) on Sunday.
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses 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.
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