Mathieu van der Poel determined to take 'every opportunity' at 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole
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Updated 24/08/2026 at 22:32 GMT+1
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Mathieu van der Poel has his eyes set on the "big goal" of winning the cross-country Olympic title at the 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships after a promising trial run at the UCI Whoop MTB World Series in Les Gets.
Highlights: Boichis ousts Van der Poel on final lap to secure home victory in Les Gets
Video credit: TNT Sports
The Alpecin-Premier Tech rider had not competed in the discipline since September 2025 but almost made a golden return in the Haute-Savoie region of France on Sunday.
Adrien Boichis thwarted his grand comeback, however, finishing seven seconds ahead in the XCO race to claim his third win of the season.
But a spot on the second step of the podium will surely hearten Van der Poel before this week's World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy.
"I think today was really nice to be in the front again," said Van der Poel. "It has been a while but it makes a big difference to start on the first two rows and I was immediately in the first two groups and I enjoyed it.
"I missed a little bit of the last punch to win but I'm happy with the performance."
It was on the last lap that Boichis managed to pull away from the Dutchman, who also returned to short track competition in Les Gets, placing 11th on Friday.
Van der Poel did not come into the final European event of the World Series cold, however, revealing that he had been gearing up for a world-title tilt since his dramatic victory on the final stage of the Tour de France.
"After the Tour de France and the victory on the Champs-Elysees, I took a few days off to enjoy the moment. Then I resumed training and went to Livigno for an altitude camp, specifically to prepare for this mountain bike block," said Van der Poel.
"I came out of the Tour in good shape and feel that I recovered well from it."
The 31-year-old is running out of career to reach the summit in the sport, despite becoming a European champion seven years ago.
- 'It feels unreal' - Alran lights up Les Gets as Holl secures fifth overall title
- 'Crazy race' - Late drama hands Martin victory after Boichis crashes at Lenzerheide
But 24 World Cup podiums and counting should suggest that he is in with a fair chance of succeeding this week.
He said: "Trying to become world champion in this discipline one day is still a big goal. I have a few years and I want to take every opportunity I get."
Reflecting on his return to competitive mountain biking, Van der Poel is hoping a similar fate that befell him last season - in which he followed up a sixth place XCO finish with a 29th-placed disappointment in Valais - will not rear its head once again.
"It's nice but last year I did a good performance here and the week after in Crans Montana I was not so good," said Van der Poel.
"So, like I said, I think the starting position is quite important, and I will be again in the fifth row there, so I will need a bit of luck."
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The 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships will run from Wednesday, August 26 until Sunday, August 30.
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