“I guess this is harder than winning on the Champs-Élysées”: Van der Poel comes close to victory in Les Gets and sends a warning ahead of the World Championships

Mathieu van der Poel returned this weekend to mountain biking after almost a year without competing in the discipline and leaves Les Gets with a result that probably exceeds many of the previous expectations. After finishing 10th in the Short Track on Friday, the Dutchman finished second in the XCO, just 7 seconds behind Adrien Boichis and after fighting for victory until the last lap. A performance that gives him confidence before the World Championship in Val di Sole, although he himself already points out the major problem he will face there: the starting position.

Van der Poel is back at the front in XCO: "I enjoyed it"

"Yes, of course. I think today was really nice to be back at the front. It had been quite a while, but starting from the first two rows makes a big difference. I was immediately in the first group and I enjoyed it", explained Van der Poel after the race.

This time he was able to compete in the XCO head-to-head with the specialists from the start. He stayed in the front group throughout the race alongside Boichis, Luca Martin, Martin Vidaurre, and Simone Avondetto and even led the race at several points.

"I lacked a bit of that final bit of strength to win"

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The eight laps of Les Gets left a very close race until Boichis and Van der Poel managed to break away alone at the front during the final lap.

The Frenchman attacked repeatedly on the climbs and Van der Poel was able to respond, but Boichis ended up opening a few meters in the last downhill section. The Dutchman tried to recover afterwards, but he could not close the gap and crossed the finish line second, just 7 seconds behind.

"I think I lacked a bit of that final bit of strength to win, but I am happy with the performance", summarized Van der Poel.

He also acknowledged the strength of the new generation that is taking over XCO, especially Adrien Boichis.

"I know what the level is. I also know Adrien. I wanted to enter the last technical section as the first rider, but he was just a bit too strong to overtake".

It was precisely there that the race was decided. Boichis arrived at the final part ahead, took advantage of his lead in the descent, and completed the double in Les Gets after also winning the Short Track on Friday.

The result invites optimism before the World Championship, but Van der Poel is cautious

The second place significantly changes the scenario with which Van der Poel will now face the World Championship in Val di Sole. But Van der Poel himself recalled that last year he experienced a similar situation and the World Championship ended up being very different.

"It's good, but I think last year I had a good performance here and the following week, in Crans-Montana, I wasn't as good".

In 2025 he finished sixth in the World Cup in Les Gets after a great comeback, but later he was 29th in the World Championship in Crans-Montana. Now he does not want to draw too many conclusions from his second place. And there is another factor that particularly worries him.

"As I said, I think the starting position is quite important and there I will be back in the fifth row, so I need a bit of luck".

The advantage he gained this weekend thanks to the Short Track will not carry over to the World Championship. In Val di Sole, he will have to start from a much more delayed position, something particularly delicate in a race where losing time during the first minutes can condition all chances of victory.

Additionally, in the World Championship in Val di Sole, two added difficulties are expected for the Dutchman: the circuit will be somewhat more technical than in Les Gets and Tom Pidcock is expected to be competing, which will undoubtedly add excitement from the start.

"I didn't win today, so I guess this is harder"

Van der Poel arrived in Les Gets after his historic victory in the last stage of the Tour de France and in which he acknowledged that that day he reached his limit. So he was directly asked what was harder, winning on the Champs-Élysées or doing it in Les Gets. Van der Poel replied with a smile:

"I didn't win today, so I guess this is harder".

The next test will be much more important. Van der Poel will now travel to Val di Sole to compete in the World Championship, where his second place in Les Gets inevitably places him among the names to watch, although this time he will have to start his attempt for the rainbow from the fifth row.