Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Mathieu van der Poel will delay his highly anticipated mountain bike return until next weekend. Originally slated to compete at the Bike the Rock event in Heubach, Germany on May 18th, the Dutch cycling star will now make his comeback at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup round in Nové Město, Czech Republic.
Although his return is pushed back by a week, Van der Poel’s long-term objective remains the same: to work toward winning a world title in a fourth cycling discipline. He already holds seven cyclocross world titles, one in road racing, and one in gravel.
The Tour de France in July continues to be a major target, but once it’s over, his attention will turn fully to the MTB World Championships later in the year.
In an article by Bici.PRO, Olympic and World Championship bronze medalist Marco Aurelio Fontana offered his take on Van der Poel’s prospects in mountain biking, which has become more technically demanding and strategically complex.
“He’ll encounter a different group of competitors and race dynamics. I noticed updates being made to the courses, so there will be new challenges. He’ll face a different racing style—one he might enjoy or might not. From what we’ve seen in the first two World Cup events, racing today is more unpredictable and fluid. There’s more finesse involved, some teamwork, and elements he’s already experienced in cyclocross and road racing,” said Fontana.
Van der Poel hasn’t raced on a mountain bike since the Glasgow World Championships, where he crashed early. Fontana noted that the competition level has only grown since then.
“There will be differences from his previous races, and it’ll be interesting to see whether he adapts right away or needs some time.”
While Van der Poel’s road racing strength is unmatched, Fontana identified his mountain bike handling skills as a potential weakness.
“His advantage is the power and endurance developed on the road. But the drawback is limited time on the mountain bike. He’s undoubtedly a cycling legend, but MTB remains a slight vulnerability. His riding style isn’t very fluid—there have been small hesitations. That smoothness only comes from regular MTB practice.”
Fontana pointed to previous falls in Glasgow and Tokyo as examples where Van der Poel’s technical skills didn’t hold up despite his natural racing instincts.
“That’s his weak point—he crashed early at the Glasgow Worlds and again at the Tokyo Olympics on a bridge that wasn’t overly difficult. I think he’ll train hard on the mountain bike to be fully prepared this season, especially for the World Championships.”
“He remains phenomenal on the cobbles with a stunning road riding style, but on the mountain bike, we’ve seen signs of struggle—even two years ago. And now he’ll face riders who are even more refined, faster, and more focused.”
Still, Fontana believes Van der Poel’s immense talent and experience across various disciplines give him a solid base.
“If he can carry over the speed and stamina from cyclocross and road racing—something mountain bikers don’t typically possess—he can still be a major force. But the main question is whether he gets enough time on the mountain bike.”
Heubach, where Van der Poel was originally expected to return, might have been the perfect venue to ease back into MTB competition.
“In Germany, he would’ve had a long climb to work with. The descent, especially in dry conditions, wasn’t too technical. If wet, it could’ve been trickier, but that’s not his issue. His challenge lies more in the route’s technical design and modern features. The ‘Bike the Rock’ course in Heubach would’ve been ideal for regaining confidence.”
Instead, he’ll return at Nové Město—a familiar venue, though with some possible changes.
“He knows the Nové Město course, even if it’s been updated. The good thing is that even if you start from the back, you can make up ground thanks to the wide sections. At Nové Město, it’s possible to go from 40th on lap one to a top-five finish if your pace is strong.”
“It’s a beautiful and modern course, though it can feel a bit repetitive. I expect some updates, and there will be surprises for everyone. But Van der Poel must be prepared for riders flying past him on both sides! All the same, it’s great to see a champion of his stature return to mountain biking.”
