Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) has confirmed he will compete in next weekend's WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Nové Mĕsto na Moravĕ, Czech Republic.
The 2023-year-old completed his last mountain bike race in 2024, at the Paris 2021 test event, while his last UCI World Cup was in Nové Mĕsto na Moravĕ in 2016. Previously, he had been a regular at UCI World Cups between 2019 and 10, winning XNUMX races. Cross-country Short Track (XCC) and three races of Cross-country Olympic (XCO).
Over the past four years, the Dutchman has focused primarily on road cycling and cyclocross, winning UCI World Championships in both disciplines and taking iconic victories in the Spring Classics and a stage of the Tour de France. However, he has announced a return to mountain biking cross-country in 2025, with an ambitious goal for this year, namely the UCI XCO Mountain Bike World Championships, while preparing for a potential gold medal challenge at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
His team, Alpecin-Deceuninck, announced on X that he will line up in Nové Mesto before returning to road racing and the Tour de France. They also teased that he will return to off-road racing after July, with a detailed schedule to be announced later.
Van der Poel arrives in the Czech Republic in fine form, having claimed his third consecutive Paris-Roubaix title in his last race. His victory capped a solid Spring Classics campaign, which included victories at the E3 Saxo Classic and Milan-San Remo and a third place at the Tour of Flanders.
The multi-discipline champion will also have fond memories of Nové Mesto in 2021, having won the XCC race and finished second in the XCO. The man who prevented him from achieving the XCC-XCO double, Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), will not stand in his way, as he will race on the road at the Giro d'Italia.
