Mathieu van der Poel abandons altitude camp due to back pain, team insist his race program remains unchanged
The Dutchman is scheduled to race again at the end of August

Mathieu van der Poel has left an altitude training camp in Livigno, Italy, early due to back pain, his team has confirmed.
The Dutchman fell heavily in the Tokyo Olympics mountain bike race, having tumbled on a downhill section where he claimed he didn't know organisers would remove a ramp that had been present during practice laps.
After abandoning the race, won by Britain's Tom Pidcock, Van der Poel was taken to hospital for x-rays on his hip, which had been causing the 26-year-old some discomfort in the aftermath of the fall.
Van der Poel has now returned home early from his altitude training camp after experiencing back pain, Alpecin-Fenix confirmed, yet team boss Christoph Roodhooft has told Het Nieuwsblad: "His program remains unchanged."
Van der Poel will return to mountain biking on August 29 at the World Championships in Val di Sole in Italy, before getting back to road racing following his debut Tour de France.
The Alpecin-Fenix star will ride the Benelux Tour, the renamed BinckBank Tour that Van der Poel won last year after taking the final stage in spectacular fashion.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
He will then take part in the World Road Race Championships in Belgium on September 26th, a Flandrian course that could suit the Dutchman.
His debut appearance at Paris-Roubaix should then follow on October 3rd, the Hell of the North having not taken place since April 2019.
For now, though, Van der Poel is hoping to take revenge for his Olympics disappointment with the mountain bike rainbow jersey.
“I am looking forward to the World Cup. After the Games, it was important for me to set new goals. I like coming to Val di Sole. It is a beautiful track that I have fond memories of, such as the 2019 World Cup race that I won," Van der Poel told Het Nieuwsblad.
“It would be cool to become world champion in all three disciplines. It will be very difficult to achieve that in one year, but hopefully, I will succeed one day.”
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Jonny was Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor until 2022.
I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
‘E-bikes are downright dangerous’: E-bike rider stranded in Texas desert for 30 hours after battery dies
The woman was recovered safely after she pushed her e-bike for 20 miles
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
'We've all got a little bit extra in us this year' - Ineos Grenadiers recapture 'fighting spirit' with aggressive Paris-Nice display
British team continue to put tumultuous 2024 behind them with momentum and a new found mentality
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel to skip road World Championships to target mountain bike title
2023 world champion confirmed to ride Tour de France in search of stage victories
By Adam Becket Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel vs Wout van Aert: Cyclo-cross World Championships form guide
Van Aert was a surprise addition to the CX Worlds lineup last weekend after he was initially not scheduled to race in Liévin
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Is Mathieu van der Poel winning races “in zone 2” helping or hindering cyclo-cross?
The Dutch world champion has turned up off-road now, and immediately won twice. Is this fun?
By Adam Becket Published
-
'I don’t think it would be a surprise to anyone' - Mathieu van der Poel on Tadej Pogačar winning Paris-Roubaix
Dutchman says current road world champion has already proven he has what it takes to thrive on the cobblestones of the Hell of the North
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock to miss cyclocross season to build for road with new Q36.5 team
Former world champ says he won’t race his CX bike this winter, Wout van Aert will ride six races
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Jasper Philipsen: 'All eyes will be on us at the Classics but we will be ready'
Milan-San Remo winner says Alpecin-Decuninck will be prepared to have a target on their back next year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel to race 11 cyclocross races this season, from the Zonohoven World Cup to the World Championships
Dutchman to defend his world title in northern France at beginning of February
By Adam Becket Published
-
Wout van Aert’s cyclo-cross campaign still up in the air
Belgian said to be struggling to run after serious knee injury sustained at the Vuelta a España
By Tom Thewlis Published