Mathieu van der Poel’s primary coach Kristof de Kegel, who is also the head of performance at Alpecin-Deceuninck was Suspended Due to what transpired….

BREAKING: Mathieu van der Poel’s Coach Kristof de Kegel Suspended Following Internal Investigation

Kristof de Kegel, the long-time personal coach of Mathieu van der Poel and current Head of Performance at Team Alpecin-Deceuninck, has been officially suspended following internal findings related to professional misconduct, the team confirmed in a press release.

The suspension, which takes effect immediately, comes in the wake of what team officials describe as “a breach of internal protocols and conduct expectations.” While specific details have not been disclosed, the incident reportedly occurred during a training camp in Girona and involved inappropriate communication with support staff members.

“We are committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and professional environment for all our athletes and staff,” the team’s statement read. “Following a thorough internal review, we have taken the decision to suspend Kristof de Kegel pending further investigation.”

Kristof de Kegel has played a central role in van der Poel’s development across multiple cycling disciplines and is widely regarded as one of the most influential performance figures in the sport. His absence raises questions about how it may impact van der Poel’s preparations ahead of the 2025 UCI Road World Championships and the remainder of the racing season.

Neither de Kegel nor van der Poel has issued a public comment, and team officials have declined to speculate on the duration or outcome of the suspension.

More updates are expected as the situation unfolds.