Mathieu van der Poel makes painful early exit on mountain bike return, as Chris Blevins wins in….

Mathieu van der Poel Makes Painful Early Exit on Mountain Bike Return, as Chris Blevins Wins in Dominant Fashion

Dutch cycling star Mathieu van der Poel endured a frustrating and painful return to mountain biking, making an early exit from the race after a crash during the opening laps of the UCI MTB World Cup event in Val di Sole, Italy. The race marked van der Poel’s highly anticipated comeback to the discipline, but hopes were quickly dashed when he went down hard on a rocky descent.

Van der Poel was seen holding his shoulder and grimacing in pain before pulling out of the race. Medical staff confirmed that while there were no fractures, he suffered heavy bruising and would require rest and assessment before returning to competition.

“It’s disappointing, especially after working so hard to come back to MTB,” van der Poel said post-race. “But that’s part of racing—especially in mountain biking. I’ll heal up and come back stronger.”

Meanwhile, American rider Chris Blevins put on a masterclass, powering away from the field to take a commanding win. The reigning U.S. national champion looked untouchable on the technical course, finishing nearly a minute ahead of the second-place rider.

With the Olympic Games on the horizon, the result raises questions about van der Poel’s readiness and race sharpness on the MTB circuit, while elevating Blevins as a strong medal contender for Team USA.

Further updates on van der Poel’s condition are expected in the coming days.