Mathieu van der Poel set for mountain biking return in May in Germany
Mountain BikeThursday, 17 April 2025 at 14:30
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.
claps 2visitors 2
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Ayuso is the problem child for UAE and he reminds me of another Pidcock. He's a great rider but he's not the great rider he thinks he is. He also won't get the opportunities that he wants at UAE so why stay? Go shine somewhere else mate. UAE keeps him cos he can win a few races but he's not happy winning just those races. He wants the whole deal. He wants Pogis spot and it's no secret. He's already refused to work for Pogi in the past. Go shine somewhere else lad. We won't be mad at you but don't blow smoke and say "everything is fine at UAE and with Pogi" cos they know what you're about and you're greedy. Just another problem child and we are seeing more of them lately. Pidcock was a big one and Ayuso has been acting this way for 3 seasons. ON YA BIKE THEN LAD!!!
kaos02-05-2025 - I agree. This was my comment . . . Ayuso is the problem child for UAE and he reminds me of another Pidcock. He's a great rider but he's not the great rider he thinks he is. He also won't get the opportunities that he wants at UAE so why stay? Go shine somewhere else mate. UAE keeps him cos he can win a few races but he's not happy winning just those races. He wants the whole deal. He wants Pogis spot and it's no secret. He's already refused to work for Pogi in the past. Go shine somewhere else lad. We won't be mad at you but don't blow smoke and say "everything is fine at UAE and with Pogi" cos they know what you're about and you're greedy. Just another problem child and we are seeing more of them lately. Pidcock was a big one and Ayuso has been acting this way for 3 seasons. ON YA BIKE THEN LAD!!!kaos02-05-2025
- Ayuso is the problem child for UAE and he reminds me of another Pidcock. He's a great rider but he's not the great rider he thinks he is. He also won't get the opportunities that he wants at UAE so why stay? Go shine somewhere else mate. UAE keeps him cos he can win a few races but he's not happy winning just those races. He wants the whole deal. He wants Pogis spot and it's no secret. He's already refused to work for Pogi in the past. Go shine somewhere else lad. We won't be mad at you but don't blow smoke and say "everything is fine at UAE and with Pogi" cos they know what you're about and you're greedy. Just another problem child and we are seeing more of them lately. Pidcock was a big one and Ayuso has been acting this way for 3 seasons. ON YA BIKE THEN LAD!!!kaos02-05-2025
- I think you're reading it wrong. He is stating when titans collide - MSR, Flanders, PR - it is interesting. LBL less so.mij02-05-2025
- There are so many counterpoints, Bolt and Bubka were never boring, nobody complained about it either. Normal people also like to watch for reasons other than being surprised or pleased by results. Pro also stands for progress, none of these guys are aliens, they’re just ahead of their time but others catch up when they learn what made the difference. Besides, he doesn’t win as often or regularly as some in other sports, even team sports. And, he’s “easily” beaten when the course doesn’t suit him.Mistermaumau02-05-2025
- Even if ROGLIČ is there?Ride197402-05-2025
- "If someone else is better, then you help them." When? I've never seen him helping CONSISTENTLY a teammate. He runs in the back of the peloton, hidden, to avoid help (in UAE and in Spain team). If someone (Almeida, Adam) shouts and scolds him, then he goes ahead and pulls for few minutes/kms (simulation of help).
maria2024202402-05-2025 - I see a list of South Americans for this Giro again: Richard Carapaz, Daniel Martinez, Egan Bernal, Nairo Quintana, etc.Ride197402-05-2025
- I'm sure Ayuso will win and big too, cept theirs always a nemesis in some way..
leedorney02-05-2025 - Harper over Zana in the Giro? I do not think so.petosagan2302-05-2025
Shabby article, he is also still hoping for an Olympic (gold I guess) medal and he could not defend his road WC jersey as he already lost it, at most he could have tried reconquering it but that would have been tricky anyway in Rwanda (no news since a while but I have a question regarding that, if it would be decided late on to change the venue (meaning we’d maybe have a very different course), would any originally non participants get any chances to opt in?)
so excited about this