Why Van der Poel could be the one to win mountain biking world title this year: "Someone like him could benefit from that"

Whether Mathieu van der Poel will ride the Tour de France remains uncertain. He himself isn’t very enthusiastic about it and would prefer a summer on the mountain bike over Le Grand Départ. Becoming world champion in mountain biking is high on the list of goals for the versatile Alpecin-Deceuninck rider. If he decides to pursue that goal, he will immediately top the list of favorites, says his Italian competitor Luca Braidot.

With names like Van der Poel and Tom Pidcock, the world of mountain biking also features multi-talented athletes who have become top competitors on the road. "They’re doing a lot for mountain biking," Braidot tells Bici.Pro. "They’re not just road cyclists. They’re among the best cyclists in the world. Pidcock, for example, is an extraordinary athlete, and having him in our races is a big advantage for the sport. The same goes for Van der Poel, one of those riders who will forever be in the history books."

"I haven’t raced against him for a few years," recalls the 33-year-old Italian. "He’s been absent from mountain biking for a while. If I’m not mistaken, his last race was in Tokyo (Van der Poel also raced at the 2023 World Championships in Glasgow, ed.). His last full season dates back to 2019. That year, he was already incredibly strong, and now he’s one of the best cyclists ever. What can I say? He’s not only very fast, but also extremely skilled technically."

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Van der Poel took a serious crash at the 2023 Mountain Bike World Championships in Glasgow

Van der Poel’s recent absence won’t be a hindrance

Van der Poel’s time away from mountain biking won’t be a significant obstacle if he returns. "If someone like him decides to focus on the Mountain Bike World Championships, he will definitely be one of the riders to beat. If Mathieu says he wants to try it, he can do it. He’s an undeniable talent, and if he dedicates himself to the discipline, he will certainly have opportunities. Of course, mountain biking is constantly evolving — the equipment, routes, technique, ... But with consistent preparation, it’s manageable. And he has excellent support. I also think that if he decides to do the World Championships, he’ll race in a few World Cups as well."

This year’s World Championships will take place in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. The venue hosted a race for the first time last year, and it was a muddy mess. Normally, however, the course should suit the reigning cyclo-cross world champion, who turned 30 on Sunday. "It’s hard to say what it would be like on dry ground, but in general, it seems like a fairly straightforward course on a technical level, apart from a few more complicated artificial sections. If it were dry, someone as multi-talented as Van der Poel could benefit from that."

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