Mathieu van der Poel has revealed his key goal for the 2025 season: becoming the mountain bike cross-country world champion. The Dutchman is currently recovering from an injury that has forced him to take a break from his cyclocross season.
Van der Poel has been a dominant force in cyclocross, winning six world championships, but he has yet to claim the mountain bike cross-country title. Despite two appearances at the Mountain Bike Worlds in 2018 and 2023, he has only managed a third-place finish and a DNF.
The Dutchman’s desire to become mountain bike cross-country world champion is driven by his ambition to complete his set of world titles. He has already won one road world title, which he claimed at the Glasgow World Championships in 2023.
Van der Poel’s focus on mountain biking is also motivated by his long-term goal of competing in the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028. He believes that winning the mountain bike cross-country world championship would be a significant step towards achieving his Olympic ambitions.
In contrast to his excitement about mountain biking, Van der Poel has expressed his lack of enthusiasm for the Tour de France. Despite having competed in the Tour for the past four seasons, he describes it as “a race that I don’t really like.”
Van der Poel’s best performance in the Tour de France came in 2021, when he won the second stage and took the yellow jersey. However, since then, he has struggled to replicate that success, and he has yet to win another stage in the Tour.
The Dutchman admits that he finds it difficult to motivate himself for the Tour de France, particularly when compared to other races where he has a stronger chance of winning. He prefers to focus on races where he can compete for victory, rather than simply riding for the sake of completion.
Van der Poel’s lack of enthusiasm for the Tour de France is also influenced by the presence of other strong riders, such as Tadej Pogačar. He acknowledges that Pogačar’s return to the Tour de France will make it even more challenging for him to achieve his goals.
Despite his reservations about the Tour de France, Van der Poel is committed to supporting his teammate Jasper Philipsen, who will be competing in the sprint stages. He believes that helping Philipsen to win stages will not only benefit his teammate but also take some of the pressure off himself.
Van der Poel’s road schedule for the 2025 season is still being finalized, but he has revealed that he will likely compete in the Paris-Nice for the first time. He believes that racing in new events will provide him with fresh challenges and motivation.
The Dutchman’s one-day campaign will follow a familiar pattern, with appearances in Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix. He is particularly focused on winning a record fourth Tour of Flanders title, which would cement his status as one of the greatest riders in the history of the sport.
However, Van der Poel is aware that achieving this goal will be difficult, particularly with the return of Tadej Pogačar to the Tour of Flanders. He acknowledges that Pogačar will be a formidable opponent, but he is relishing the challenge of competing against him.
Van der Poel and Pogačar have a long history of competing against each other, and their rivalry has produced some of the most exciting moments in recent cycling history. Their clash at the Tour of Flanders in 2025 is eagerly anticipated by fans around the world.
The Dutchman is confident that he can close the gap on Pogačar with focused training and preparation. He is willing to adapt his training schedule and take on new challenges in order to achieve his goals.
Van der Poel’s determination and ambition make him one of the most compelling riders in the peloton. As he sets his sights on the mountain bike cross-country world championship and a record fourth Tour of Flanders title, fans around the world will be watching with bated breath.
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