Mathieu van der Poel, one of the most versatile and celebrated cyclists of his generation, has a new goal in sight—the 2025 Mountain Bike World Championships. Known for excelling across multiple disciplines, including cyclocross, road racing, and mountain biking, van der Poel’s ambitions for the future extend to conquering a sport he has already tasted success in but wants to dominate further.
A Career Built on Versatility
Van der Poel’s resume speaks for itself. He’s a reigning world champion in road cycling, but his roots are deeply entrenched in off-road cycling. He burst onto the scene with cyclocross victories, dominating the sport with multiple world titles. Later, he shifted to mountain biking, where he quickly made a name for himself, despite some setbacks, including a crash in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics that dashed his gold medal hopes.
Despite that crash, van der Poel’s talent on the mountain bike has been undeniable. He finished second in the World Cup’s Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) rankings in both 2018 and 2019, outperforming even legendary riders like Nino Schurter(
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Focus on Mountain Biking
For van der Poel, mountain biking isn’t just a side project—it’s a significant part of his legacy. Though primarily known for his achievements on the road, he has expressed a burning desire to add more mountain biking titles to his name, especially at the World Championships level. “I really want that title,” van der Poel said, making it clear that the 2025 event is one of his major long-term goals.
He’s eyeing the Mountain Bike Worlds as an opportunity to solidify his reputation as one of the most versatile cyclists ever. With the support of his team and fans, van der Poel is setting the groundwork to become the rider to beat at the 2025 Mountain Bike World Championships.
Overcoming Challenges
Van der Poel’s journey to this point hasn’t been without challenges. In addition to his 2021 Olympic crash, he has faced recurring back problems, which have caused interruptions in his training and racing schedule. However, he’s shown remarkable resilience in bouncing back, even making a successful return to road racing and cyclocross(
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His determination to succeed in mountain biking stems from a love of the sport and the unfinished business from past disappointments. As he builds towards 2025, van der Poel will need to balance his commitments across multiple cycling disciplines, but his track record suggests he’s more than capable of doing so.
Future Outlook
With two years to prepare, Mathieu van der Poel has ample time to fine-tune his form and focus on the specifics of mountain biking. As 2025 approaches, the cycling world will be eagerly watching to see if he can finally claim the title that has eluded him and add another significant achievement to his already illustrious career.
Fans of van der Poel know that when he sets his mind to something, he rarely falls short, making his pursuit of the 2025 Mountain Bike World Championship title one of the most exciting storylines in cycling to follow.
