After a successful cyclocross season, where he won his seventh world championship in the discipline, Mathieu van der Poel explained his goals for 2025, and MTB will return to the forefront. Since the Road World Championship in Rwanda does not suit his qualities, it is time to try to conquer the XCO World Championship.
After the Tour de France he wants to think only about MTB. Ok, it cannot be said that his last experience at the Tour de France was positive, but the French race plays a very important role in the road season and this will mean that he will be back on the starting line.
Obviously, the classics season will be very important for him. Then the Tour de France and finally MTB.
I don't know yet if I'll do any MTB races after the classics. If possible, I'll definitely do it. After the Tour de France, it'll be all about MTB. It's a big goal. It's the last piece of the puzzle that I'm missing. There's a good chance I'll be at the start (of the XCO World Championships), since I won't be going to Rwanda for the Road World Championships. – Mathieu Van der Poel
Now the question is whether we will see him participate in other XCO races before the world championship: surely, before the world championships, he will have to refine his preparation with some events to avoid the risk of arriving unprepared as has happened in the past.
