Mathieu van der Poel is scheduled to race the Les Gets MTB World Cup before the MTB world championships at Val di Sole. He has won world titles on the road, in cyclocross, and on gravel, but not in cross-country mountain biking. He has not raced since the final stage of the 2026 Tour de France.
From a rider's perspective, the risk is high. Past MTB crashes have caused injuries, including a fractured scaphoid at Nové Město. A bad crash now could easily jeopardize his preparation for the road world championships. Still, the appeal of that missing rainbow jersey is a powerful motivator for any athlete.
Should Van der Poel risk his road worlds chances to chase the MTB world title he has never won? If he decides to skip the MTB events to prioritize the road, would that be seen as a lack of ambition or just smart management of his physical health?