Mathieu Van Der Poel's World Championship is approaching; the Dutch rider will be looking for victory at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Switzerland this Sunday, September 14th. The hunt for his fourth rainbow jersey It opened a few months ago. Van der Poel he gave up on the idea of going to run in Rwanda, like many other athletes, and he will have had to deal with the goals that he can still achieve in a unique career. Off-roading is his great love. He came from cyclocross, where he was able to conquer everything, and then moved to the road and replicatedAnother milestone came in gravel, where Van Der Poel won the world title last year.
The new, or rather old, challenge is mountain biking. The athlete of theAlpecin-Deceuninck he had set out in pursuit of a major title at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, but going far from getting itHowever, the feeling is that the world championship at stake in Switzerland next Sunday is something Van Der Poel is not willing to compromise on.
Stop and start again
While the objective had already been set for a long time, the path towards it had not been. The Glasgow world champion had to withdraw from the Tour de France due to pneumonia., a forced stop that forced him to review his training plans.
Once recovered he returned to the race at the Renewi Tour. In Belgium he showed that he was improving, taking a second place finish behind an excellent Arnaud De Lie. On the Alpecin flagship, in those days, there was Christoph Roodhooft, sport director of the teamWe turned to him to tell us about Van Der Poel's last few months, from his retirement at the Tour to the World Championships. Valais 2025.
Let's start with the Tour: how did Van Der Poel recover from pneumonia?
He had to take it easy for several days. Rest, light training when possible and great attention to recovery were key. Above all, it was a question of patience: his body needed to fully recover before he could return to competing at a high level.
How did you train during those weeks? What kind of training did you do? More specific to mountain biking?
He went to Spain, his usual training base, where he combined long endurance rides with some interval work as he progressed. There wasn't enough time to do specific training in view of the mountain bike commitments, that's why we waited until after the Renewi Tour.
How important was the Renewi Tour for your future races? And why?
The Renewi Tour helped him rediscover his sense of rhythm and the intensity of the race. It was important to rebuild competitiveness and confidence without immediately risking a mountain bike race.. In other words, it served as a bridge to more specific off-road preparation.
Was the shape what you would have expected?
For a cyclist who was returning from pneumonia, his form was already quite good. Not at his best as in July, obviously, but physically he was close to his best potential.Mentally, regaining confidence on the bike was equally crucial.
Was the victory in Geraardsbergen important?
Absolutely. It confirmed that he was competitive again and capable of winning. It was both a physical and mental boost, which gave him confidence for his more ambitious goals., or the mountain bike world championship.
Was the decision to participate in the MTB World Championship shared with the team?
Yes. In a team like Alpecin-Deceuninck, these decisions are always discussed. The athletes, in this case Van Der Poel, the management and the team's management evaluate the risks and opportunities togetherIt's a team decision, never an individual one.
How important was the Les Gets race in view of Sunday's World Championship?
Les Gets was importantThe course was technical and challenging, comparable to that of the next world championship (UCI MTB World Series photo at the beginning). It was an opportunity to regain confidence and technical ability, which he didHe also approached the race with caution, building a good result without taking unnecessary risks.
Van Der Poel has shown some technical gaps compared to riders who regularly focus on mountain biking, will he be able to fill this gap?
It depends on a little more technical training, more time on the mountain bike, and experience on similar routes. It's a quick learner, but it requires a lot of concentration. The best bikers are technically very strong, but this can be compensated by an optimal physical condition.And it's not that Mathieu isn't technically capable!
Does the absence of top-level riders like Pidcock open the way for Mathieu to win the last rainbow jersey he's missing?
It certainly helps, but it's no guarantee. The field that will face Sunday is exceptionally strong and unpredictable.. Trail conditions, weather and small mistakes are all important factors. While Pidcock's absence increases Mathieu's chances, the rest of the competition shouldn't be underestimated.He'll have to be in top form, and that's exactly what he's been working on in the last week before the race.
