Updated: Mathieu Van Der Poel Will Not Race Nové Město XCO World Cup

Mathieu Van der Poel has confirmed he will not participate in the upcoming Nové Město XCO World Cup, scheduled for May 24-26. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider’s decision means he will skip the second round of the cross-country series, following his absence from the opening event in Mairiporã. This announcement, initially reported by Pinkbike, solidifies his focus elsewhere for the immediate future.

This withdrawal isn't entirely unexpected, given Van der Poel's stated preference for a road-heavy spring and his long-term Olympic mountain bike ambitions. His last XCO appearance was the disastrous Paris 2024 test event, where a crash ended his race early. With the road season's monumental efforts behind him and the Olympic MTB race still months away, Nové Město was always a challenging fit, requiring a specific training block he appears unwilling to commit to at this juncture.

Ultimately, this move underscores the perpetual balancing act for multi-discipline stars. Van der Poel, it seems, has chosen discretion over a potentially disruptive XCO effort, saving his legs for battles yet to come.