After a demanding spring campaign, Dutch cycling superstar Mathieu van der Poel has resumed training, now with a fresh goal in sight: the coveted rainbow jersey in the UCI Mountain Bike Cross-Country (XCO) World Championships. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider, who recently reclaimed his dominance in the classic races, including a monumental victory at Paris-Roubaix, is now shifting his focus to the rough terrain of mountain biking.
Van der Poel, a former world cyclocross champion and reigning road race world champion, has long harbored ambitions in mountain biking. With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on the horizon and a history of unfinished business in this discipline—most notably his dramatic fall at the Tokyo Olympics—he is sharpening his off-road skills with renewed focus.
Through his team, Van der Poel expressed his excitement about returning to the mountain biking circuit. “It’s a different challenge. The technical requirements, the intensity—it’s something I’ve always enjoyed. And the XCO rainbow jersey is one of the few important jerseys still missing from my collection.”
His training regime is now shifting towards high-altitude camps and technical sessions, designed to help him re-adjust to the pace and explosive demands of XCO racing. While there is no official confirmation of his return to racing, speculation is growing that he may appear at a World Cup event ahead of the World Championships to fine-tune his form.
Van der Poel’s quest for another rainbow jersey adds a thrilling new chapter to his already legendary career. Whether racing on cobbled roads or dusty mountain trails, his presence always sparks excitement—now the countdown to his return to XCO racing has officially begun.
Could this be the year that Van der Poel conquers all three disciplines? The sands are shifting, and it seems that he is ready to tackle them all.
This version captures the essence of the original article while maintaining a concise flow, ideal for a blog post.
Leave a Reply