Mathieu van der Poel has just concluded yet another
spectacular spring campaign. The Dutch superstar secured his third consecutive
victory at Paris-Roubaix, alongside wins at the E3 Saxo Classic and
Milano-Sanremo. Before even hitting the road, he made history by claiming a
record-equalling seventh cyclocross world title earlier in the year.
Yet, with the cobbles behind him and no road races scheduled
until the Tour de France in July, van der Poel appears to be shifting his focus
elsewhere.
The organisers of Bike the Rock, a mountain bike race
in Germany, have announced van der Poel’s return to mountain biking, describing
his appearance as a “long-awaited comeback”. While Alpecin-Deceuninck has not
officially confirmed his participation, anticipation is already building for
his potential involvement, and this news is in line with the rumours of recent
weeks.
The race, scheduled for May 18, is not part of the UCI
Mountain Bike World Cup but does feature on the MTB Bundesliga calendar in
Germany. The event is expected to attract a strong field, especially with van
der Poel’s name in the mix.
Now 30, van der Poel holds the cyclocross and gravel world
titles and has previously worn the rainbow jersey on the road. He has openly
admitted that the mountain bike world title is the one major prize missing from
his glittering palmarès, an omission he is determined to rectify.
Van der Poel has not raced in mountain biking since 2023 and
has opted not to defend his road world title this year. Instead, following the
Tour de France, he plans to build toward the Mountain Bike World Championships
in Switzerland this September.
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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