
UPDATE: Mathieu van der Poel may be forced to miss Tour de France as more information on seriousness of MTB crash that left him hospitalised comes to light
**UPDATE: Mathieu van der Poel May Be Forced to Miss Tour de France After Serious MTB Crash**
Mathieu van der Poel’s Tour de France ambitions are now in serious jeopardy following new revelations about the severity of the injuries he sustained in a mountain bike crash earlier this week. What was initially thought to be a precautionary hospital visit has now escalated into a full-blown concern for both Alpecin-Deceuninck and fans across the cycling world.
According to updated reports, the Dutch superstar suffered multiple contusions and a suspected minor fracture during a high-speed training accident on technical MTB terrain. Sources close to the team have confirmed that Van der Poel was briefly hospitalized for observation and remains under strict medical supervision. While his condition is stable, his recovery timeline remains uncertain—and increasingly tight with the Tour de France just weeks away.
Van der Poel had been blending mountain bike training into his road preparation in anticipation of a packed summer schedule that included the Tour de France and the Olympic Games. This crash, however, throws a significant wrench into those plans. While no official decision has been made regarding his participation in the Tour, insiders admit that missing the race is now a “real possibility.”
“He’s in good spirits, but clearly disappointed,” a team source revealed. “Right now, it’s about giving his body time to heal. The Tour is not off the table, but we’re being cautious.”
Van der Poel was set to make his debut at the Critérium du Dauphiné next month as part of a more structured approach to Tour readiness. That appearance is now in doubt, and with it, the critical race rhythm he would have relied on heading into July.
For Alpecin-Deceuninck, the potential loss of their marquee rider for the Tour is a major blow—not just for their stage-winning prospects, but for their visibility and tactics across the three-week race. Van der Poel’s presence is magnetic, and his absence would shift the dynamics of sprint stages and hilly days alike.
Fans and fellow riders have flooded social media with messages of support, while the team remains focused on a careful recovery. For now, the cycling world waits—hoping Van der Poel can make a comeback in time, but preparing for the reality that this summer’s Tour de France may go on without one of its brightest stars.
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