Sunday was a shock for every cycling fan. Mathieu van der Poel’s return didn’t go as expected. In Nové Město, Czech Republic, he crashed twice during the World Cup and was forced to abandon the race. The Dutchman landed hard on his wrist, raising concerns about a serious injury. However, van der Poel has already posted encouraging images on his Instagram account.
Van der Poel’s long-awaited return to mountain biking did not go according to plan. He suffered a hard fall in Nové Město, where he previously claimed victory in 2019. The aftermath was troubling: the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider appeared clearly distressed as he exited the race.
Shortly afterward, the diagnosis was confirmed: the Dutchman had sustained a fracture in his wrist. This sparked worry among cycling fans, especially with the Tour de France approaching. The race begins in five weeks and includes several early stages that are ideal for van der Poel.
Van der Poel shares hopeful images
His Tour de France preparation is now altered. The 30-year-old classics expert is missing his initial altitude training days in La Plagne. It also quickly became apparent that the Critérium du Dauphiné, starting in two weeks, would be off the table. Still, there is a silver lining: van der Poel has shared hopeful updates on Instagram.
The posts show him back on his bike, though only using rollers. Wearing a wrist brace, he is training through Zwift, offering some hope for the Tour de France. Fans are eager to see van der Poel at his best when the race kicks off in Brittany. As for the mountain bike world championships in Switzerland, no updates have been given yet — but those familiar with van der Poel know he’ll be aiming for his tenth rainbow jersey.
