I really want to win the mountain bike world title’ – Mathieu van der Poel adds fat tyre racing to Classics and Tour de France goals

I really want to win the mountain bike world title’ – Mathieu van der Poel adds fat tyre racing to Classics and Tour de France goals

 

Mathieu van der Poel, the Dutch cycling sensation, is adding a new layer of ambition to his already impressive career by targeting the Mountain Bike World Championship, alongside his focus on the Classics and Tour de France. This expansion of his goals is a significant development for both him and the sport, as it signals a new chapter in a career that has already seen him rise to prominence across multiple cycling disciplines.

 

Van der Poel is well-known for his versatility. Over the years, he has excelled in road racing, cyclocross, and most recently, mountain biking, where he made headlines with his victory at the 2021 World Cup in Leogang. Now, the 28-year-old rider has set his sights on winning the Mountain Bike World Championship, a title that would cement his status as one of the most talented and dynamic cyclists of his generation.

 

In his career so far, van der Poel has already achieved remarkable feats. He has won prestigious races such as the Tour of Flanders, Milan-San Remo, and Amstel Gold, alongside numerous cyclocross titles. His ability to dominate the most difficult and varied terrains on both the road and dirt has made him a fan favorite and a rider to watch in any discipline.

 

But van der Poel has always been open about his desire to challenge himself across various formats, and his move into mountain biking is no different. With his natural skill set and background in cyclocross, which shares many similarities with mountain biking, he brings an edge that could make him a strong contender in world-class MTB events. His addition of the Mountain Bike World Championship to his list of goals adds another exciting layer to his already packed racing schedule, which traditionally revolves around the demanding road racing calendar.

 

His ambitions aren’t just about adding another title to his already crowded trophy cabinet; they speak to his love for cycling and his drive to constantly push his limits. In addition to his mountain biking aspirations, van der Poel has consistently performed at a high level in the Classics — one-day races that demand an extraordinary combination of endurance, power, and tactical acumen. His performances in the Tour de France have also been exceptional, notably wearing the yellow jersey in 2021 and finishing strong in the general classification, a demonstration of his prowess in multi-stage races.

 

The decision to target the Mountain Bike World Title alongside these other prestigious races is a reflection of van der Poel’s personality. He is not someone who shies away from challenges, and rather than focusing on a single discipline, he thrives in the variety that cycling offers. He enjoys the different demands of each race type and feels at home in the dynamic nature of mountain biking, where technical skill and raw power are often equally crucial.

 

For van der Poel, the road to the Mountain Bike World Title will be tough, with fierce competition from specialist riders in the sport. However, his adaptability and history of succeeding in various cycling disciplines give him a unique advantage. His recent achievements in both road and cyclocross racing, as well as his growing success in mountain biking, have built a strong case for his potential in this area. If he can manage the challenges of balancing multiple goals in a single season, there’s a strong chance that van der Poel could continue rewriting the record books, now as a potential world champion in mountain biking as well.