Van der Poel is seen with a new Canyon prototype

The Dutch champion Mathieu van der Poel has resumed his training from his residence in Alicante after several weeks of rest. In his latest Instagram posts, he has been seen riding an unprecedented Canyon bike, different from any road model that the German brand currently has in its catalog.

Mathieu van der Poel spotted with a new Canyon

The images, shared on social media by both Van der Poel and some of his training partners, such as Freddy Ovett or Laurens Vanthoor, show a bike with several visible modifications compared to the Aeroad and Ultimate models.

A new handlebar design with a forward upper part is noticeable, different from the integrated "Pace" cockpit that Canyon presented this year for the Ultimate. The rear triangle also seems redesigned, with lower stays and apparently a greater wheel clearance. It seems that the cable integration is now even cleaner.

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A shared post from Freddy Ovett (@freddyovett)

RECOMENDADO

“If he were allowed, Pogacar would already be racing in cyclocross”: UCI dreams of Slovenian to boost the discipline

"I want to make something absolutely clear: I have never used doping substances or prohibited methods": Oier Lazkano defends his innocence

What is ERG mode and what is it used for in training?

How to clean your helmet

Axelle Dubau-Prévot completes an epic comeback and Matt Beers confirms his dominance at the Gravel Burn 2025

How to improve your FTP

The Canyon Aeroad CFR was renewed just a year ago and remains the reference machine for the Alpecin-Deceuninck team in almost any competition, so an early replacement seems unlikely. Instead, the brand's release schedule does suggest that the Ultimate is close to receiving an update, which would fit with the current development timeline.

However, the market trend, with examples like the Trek Madone Gen 8 or the Colnago Y1Rs, could have led Canyon to create an "all-in-one" bike that combines the aerodynamic advantages of the Aeroad with the climbing efficiency of the Ultimate.

What seems confirmed is that Van der Poel is riding a completely unprecedented bike so far, as Canyon responded to road.cc about this appearance on social media: "Just like in Formula 1, the CFR platform is in constant development alongside our athletes." 

A response that leaves the door open for it to be a prototype in the testing phase before its official presentation.