The Giro d’Italia is currently in full motion, but a number of top cyclists are competing elsewhere rather than in southern Europe. One such rider is Mathieu van der Poel. The Dutch star will return to competition on May 25—though not in a road race. Instead, he’ll be lining up for a mountain bike race in Nové Město, Czech Republic. Leading up to his first mountain biking event in years, van der Poel has been spending time on a different type of bike, as seen on his Instagram.
The versatile Dutchman recently posted a video of himself riding across the gravel roads of Belgium. And he’s not using a typical road bike, but the latest Canyon Grail—a sleek white gravel bike that pairs perfectly with his rainbow jersey. Van der Poel earned that jersey last year after becoming gravel world champion in Leuven, Belgium.
Yet, in the video, he’s chosen not to wear the jersey. Still, the footage may hint at more than just his new bike. The UCI has given van der Poel the chance to defend his gravel world title on home soil this autumn. The next world gravel championships are set to take place in South Limburg, a region passionate about cycling. The date—October 12, 2025—is likely etched in the 30-year-old’s mind.
Via Switzerland to South Limburg?
Before October arrives, van der Poel hopes to have already achieved his primary autumn objective. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider has his sights set on the mountain bike world championships in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Scheduled for September 14, he aims to capture his tenth rainbow jersey—across four different disciplines—an extraordinary feat that underscores his rare talent.
But before all of that, van der Poel will be in action at the Tour de France, where several early stages appear to suit a classics specialist like him. The final stage also brings excitement: the ASO is rumored to have included the legendary Montmartre climb in the route—a cobbled ascent that seems tailor-made for van der Poel.
