Mathieu van der Poel continues outstanding 2019 season with first ever MTB World Cup victory
The Dutchman attacked and dropped the reigning world and Olympic champion to win by 19 seconds
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Mathieu van der Poel continued his outstanding breakout 2019 season with his first ever mountain bike World Cup race victory in the Czech Republic.
The Dutchman attacked and dropped the reigning world and Olympic mountain bike champion, Nino Schurter, eventually beating him by 19 seconds, in a further display of the cross-discipline talent possessed by the 24-year-old.
Alongside his first XCO World Cup victory, Van der Poel has won a World Cup and world championships in cyclo-cross, as well as the WorldTour road races Amstel Gold Race, Dwars door Vlaanderen and Brabantse Pijl in the first five months of 2019.
Speaking after the finish, Van der Poel said: "Winning a mountain bike World Cup is one of the toughest things I can do. I’ve been trying for 3 years now... I’m really proud."
Van der Poel added a final road race to his calendar before the mountain bike season commenced, racing Puivelde Koerse on May 15 in Belgium, with the Dutchman saying he wants to focus more on road racing in the future, gaining a number of high-profile supporters of this endeavour.
The Corendon-Circus rider has said he "really wants to ride a Grand Tour after Tokyo 2020" having booked his place at the Games in Japan after coming second in the World Cup mountain biking even in Albstadt on May 19 and accruing enough UCI points to qualify.
This sentiment has been backed up by his grandfather, perennial Tour de France podium finisher and cycling great Raymond Poulidor, who said "he will have to ride the Tour de France in future".
"He’s already doing huge things at his age, and he’s adapting to all the disciplines of cycling," Poulidor told Dutch broadcaster NOS. (opens in new tab)
"One day I think he wants to do the Tour, who knows, but I think he will have to do it in the future. I don’t see him ever giving up cyclocross though, it is sacred to him."
A more immediate target on the road could be the upcoming 2019 world championships in Yorkshire. with Dutch national team coach Koos Moerenhout publicly calling for the young talent to take the start line in September.
"It’s a course that suits Van der Poel perfectly," Moerenhout told Dutch newspaper AD. "It should come as no surprise that I would like to have him there. If he goes to the world championships, and is as perfectly prepared as he was for this spring, then he belongs there."
Thank you for reading 10 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
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. 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.
-
-
Remco Evenepoel sends verbal warning to his 'idol' Primož Roglič after quadruple Volta a Catalunya showdown
It's 2-1 to Roglič after a neck-and-neck fight at the Volta a Catalunya, but Evenepoel isn't short of confidence
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
How E3 showed us what Van Aert, Van der Poel and Pogačar need to do to win the Tour of Flanders
Wout van Aert might have won on Friday, but everything could change next Sunday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
How E3 showed us what Van Aert, Van der Poel and Pogačar need to do to win the Tour of Flanders
Wout van Aert might have won on Friday, but everything could change next Sunday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Wout van Aert sprints to win from an elite trio at brutal edition of E3 Saxo Classic
Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar outpowered in finalé by Belgian
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel powers to Milan-San Remo victory with explosive Poggio attack
'This was my best level,' says Dutchman after Monument win
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel hoping to race 'as aggressively' at Strade Bianche as 2021 victory
The 28-year-old says he has had "the perfect build-up" for Saturday's event
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Eight riders to watch in the men's Strade Bianche 2023
Wout van Aert sits out due to illness, opening the door for a potentially new winner in the Piazza del Campo
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Strade Bianche 2023: Start list information for the Italian classic's 17th edition
Taking a look at the men's and women's start lists for the Italian one day race
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Wout van Aert v. Mathieu van der Poel - a truly rare and iconic sporting rivalry
As the duo continue to trade blows on the biggest of stages, their rivalry will go down in history as one of cycle racings greatest
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Even Wout van Aert can lose his nerve: Five things we learned from the CX World Championships
Even with the absence of Tom Pidcock on the world stage, British cyclo-cross is in a good place
By Tom Thewlis • Published