Mathieu van der Poel made his long-awaited return to competition after being forced to abandon the Tour de France with pneumonia, but the Dutch champion admitted that he remains uncertain about his form as he eases back into racing. His comeback began at the Profronde Etten-Leur, a criterium in the Netherlands that allowed him to reconnect with fans and test his legs for the first time since illness sidelined him. While the atmosphere was celebratory, Van der Poel was candid in saying that his body is still a question mark, and that it will take more than one race to know if he can return to his top level before the biggest goals of the season.
The illness, which struck during the Tour, forced him into an unplanned pause that disrupted not only his summer campaign but also his buildup toward the mountain bike World Championships. After weeks of recovery, he admitted that the uncertainty is difficult to manage, as he has not been able to push himself in training the way he normally would. “It’s hard to know where I stand,” he explained. “You can feel fine in training, but racing is something different. I have to listen to my body and take it step by step.”
Next on his schedule is the Renewi Tour later in August, a WorldTour stage race that will provide a much sterner test of his condition. Van der Poel hopes that by then he will have built up more rhythm and confidence, but he is realistic about the challenges ahead. The Muur van Geraardsbergen and other demanding stages will serve as a crucial barometer of whether he is ready to contend at the highest level or still needs more time to regain sharpness.
The ultimate target remains the XCO World Championships in Switzerland in mid-September, a race he has marked as one of his primary goals for the year. His decision to slot in additional road racing reflects both his competitive instinct and a pragmatic approach to preparation, ensuring he doesn’t arrive undercooked for such a demanding event. For fans, simply seeing Van der Poel back in action is a welcome sight, but for the rider himself, the focus is on rediscovering the form that has made him one of the most versatile and dominant athletes in cycling. As he navigates this delicate comeback, every race will be an important step in answering the questions surrounding his recovery and readiness for the battles to come.
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