Mathieu van der Poel Crashes Twice in Shocking Return to Mountain Biking at Nové Město XCO World Cup
After dominating the cobbled classics and dazzling fans on the road, cycling superstar Mathieu van der Poel made a dramatic—and unexpectedly short—return to mountain biking at the XCO World Cup in Nové Město. But instead of a triumphant homecoming, the multi-discipline legend suffered two crashes within the opening minutes, forcing a stunning early withdrawal from the race.
A Comeback That Ended Too Soon
Excitement buzzed around van der Poel’s return to the dirt. Fans and media alike were eager to see if the reigning Paris–Roubaix and Milan–San Remo champion could translate his road dominance back to the trails. But just six minutes into the elite men’s race, disaster struck.
Van der Poel lost control on a descent and went down hard. Before he could even settle back into rhythm, he crashed again moments later—this time with enough impact to end his day altogether.
“He just couldn’t get into the groove,” said one commentator. “It was clear something wasn’t clicking—whether physically, mentally, or just luck.”
Not a Serious Injury — But A Major Setback
Thankfully, initial reports confirmed that van der Poel avoided any serious injury. While he looked shaken and frustrated, he was able to walk away under his own power.
But the psychological hit could be significant. After returning from a wrist injury earlier this season and battling through the grueling Critérium du Dauphiné on the road, this off-road failure throws his mountain biking campaign into uncertainty.
Focus Shifts Back to the Road
Though the Nové Město DNF (Did Not Finish) was a blow, van der Poel isn’t short of options. He’s already back in training in Spain, targeting the Tour de France in July. His form is still strong—evidenced by his tenacity at Dauphiné and recent Monument wins.
His Alpecin–Deceuninck team has confirmed he’ll race in support of sprinter Jasper Philipsen and potentially target stage wins of his own.
From Dirt to Glory — Still One of the Greats
It’s easy to forget in moments like these that Mathieu van der Poel is still riding high in 2025:
* Milan–San Remo champion
* Paris–Roubaix three-peat winner
* 8-time Monument champion
* A fan favorite across every cycling discipline
Mountain biking may not have welcomed him back with open arms this time, but van der Poel’s fire is far from extinguished.
Crashes are part of the sport, but watching a champion like van der Poel fall twice in just minutes was a jarring sight. Still, if history has shown us anything, it’s this: Mathieu van der Poel always bounces back—and the next comeback is usually spectacular.
What do you think? Should van der Poel continue chasing MTB glory, or focus solely on the road? Share your thoughts in the comments!
