Mathieu van der Poel used to be an avid Strava user, but the Dutchman hasn't been active on the popular training app for the past two years. Until today, that is, when we suddenly saw a file come through showing a very intense running session with his regular training partner and friend Freddy Ovett.
"Is this my Strava comeback?" Van der Poel wonders. The 30-year-old rider is currently in Spain, preparing for his return to cyclocross. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider usually gets ready on the bike, but Van der Poel also regularly puts on his running shoes.
Together with Ovett, he was tempted into a 10-kilometer run. It was certainly no easy jog. In fact, Van der Poel completed his session in just 34 minutes, averaging a pace of 3:22 per kilometer.
When will Van der Poel race cyclocross again?
Cycling fans are especially eager to see Van der Poel back in the field as soon as possible. However, it’s still unclear when he will don a race number again. Last winter, the world champion’s program originally included eleven cyclocross races, but after crashing into a pole in Loenhout, he broke several ribs. Because of this, he had to skip the races in Baal, Koksijde, and Dendermonde.
His team manager Christoph Roodhooft from Alpecin-Deceuninck told Sporza that the rider’s program will only be announced at the end of November during the official presentation of the World Championships in Hulst.
