Mathieu van der Poel considers Gravel World Championship participation: "In Belgium I ride on gravel 9 times out of 10"

National coach Laurens ten Dam hinted last week that Mathieu van der Poel's participation in the Gravel World Championships on Oct. 6 in Leuven was "very uncertain." However, the rider himself still leaves more than an opening. He told IDLProCycling.com and others at a press event on Friday prior to the European Championships on the road.  

"There has been a question mark behind it for a long time," VDP stated when asked. He rode the Gravel World Championship once before, at the inaugural edition in 2022. Back then, his Alpecin-Deceuninck teammate Gianni Vermeersch won the race, while Van der Poel finished in third place in Cittadella (Veneto, Italy, ed.). Afterward, he expressed that he very much enjoyed his trip.

A new opportunity may follow one week after the World Championships on the road in Zurich, Switzerland. "I haven't decided that yet, but that option to do it is there. We have now planned until Zurich, but it could be that we add it. It depends on how I feel then because it's close to home."

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Van der Poel finds riding on gravel a lot of fun

"When I'm in Belgium, I ride on gravel 9 out of 10 times," the versatile Dutchman says. "It's something I just like to do; it's something different. But if I would participate, it's not just to participate."

So Van der Poel may continue his championship form, which he plans to showcase for the first time next Sunday at the European Road Championships in Hasselt, for one more week. "It's the week after the World Championships in Zurich, but the way it looks now, there's more chance I'll do it than not," he concludes.

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