Van der Poel Hints at Potential Return to Mountain Biking, Considering Radical Career Shift
Dutch cycling star Mathieu van der Poel is openly contemplating a full-time return to mountain biking, a move that could dramatically alter his competitive focus after achieving world championship titles across multiple disciplines. The revelation came following a sixth-place finish in a recent competition at Les Gets, serving as a key readiness event for the upcoming World Cup in Crans-Montana.
Van der Poel, already a world champion on the road, in cyclocross, and gravel biking, expressed frustration with starting positions in mountain bike competitions and suggested a season dedicated to the discipline might be necessary to secure a more beneficial starting spot.This potential shift carries significant implications for his current teams – Alpecin-Deceuninck – and the broader cycling landscape, potentially opening opportunities for other riders to contend for top honors in road and gravel events.
Following his performance in Les Gets on May 24, 2024, Van der Poel admitted needing more “specific work” to reach peak form. “I noticed today that I really still need this specific work. I could keep up the pace, but I could never go over my limit,” he stated. He also expressed regret over a missed prospect during the race, saying, “I had signed beforehand, but in retrospect, I think I should have been more brutal and should have throw myself in between.”
The primary obstacle to success in mountain biking, according to van der Poel, is his starting position. “I would have liked to be at the front of this World cup, but that means that I have to go mountain biking for a whole season,” he explained. He then added, significantly, “Maybe that will happen sometime…”
This consideration stems from a deep-rooted passion for the sport.Sources close to Van der Poel have long acknowledged mountain biking as his “greatest love,” suggesting a complete transition wouldn’t be entirely unexpected. The timing of this potential change remains uncertain, but the possibility is now firmly on the table as Van der Poel weighs his options for the future.
