The Dutch star suffered two crashes on the start loop and eventually called it quits before the halfway stage in Czechia.
Mathieu van der Poel made a short and painful return to mountain bike racing on Sunday (25 May 2025).
The Dutch star was starting his preparations for September’s UCI World Championships in Switzerland by competing in the Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) World Cup event in Nove Mesto, Czechia.
Despite this being his first XCO race in almost two years, van der Poel was able to start in the fourth row thanks to his high road race world ranking.
But after just two minutes of racing on the start loop, he ran out of room trying to go round the outside of Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist David Valero with both men hitting the deck.
A front wheel issue dropped Valero to the back of the field, but van der Poel was able to get going and start making his way past slower riders. However, near the end of the start loop, he misjudged a jump and was sent over the front of the handlebars at high speed.
The 30-year-old remounted and crossed the start-finish line in 84th place, 1:15 down on the lead. He worked hard to move up into the top 60, but called it a day before the end of lap three of eight. This was a nightmare outcome for van der Poel who needs good finishes to improve his ranking and obtain a good grid position at the World Championships.
Chris Blevins of the United States clinched his second XCO win of the season, with Frenchman Mathis Azzaro finishing strongly to pip Lars Forster and Paris 2024 silver medallist Victor Koretzky in the sprint for second.
Rio 2016 gold medallist and 10-time world champion Nino Schurter, now 39 years old, lost touch with the lead group early on and finished in 18th.
Schurter and van der Poel will attempt to make amends in the next round in Leogang, Austria in two weeks’ time on 8 June.
