"I’m starting to get nervous": Van der Poel's wink that points to The Traka

Mathieu van der Poel could make a comeback sooner than expected. Just a few days after wrapping up his spring classics campaign, the Dutchman has started training intensively again in Girona and has left a message that has sparked speculation about his possible presence at The Traka, the major gravel event taking place next weekend.

Van der Poel leaves the door open for The Traka after training in Girona and sending an unexpected hint

The Alpecin-Premier Tech rider has been spotted these days on the roads of Girona alongside a regular training partner, Australian Freddy Ovett. Both completed a ride of nearly 140 kilometers, mostly on dirt tracks, in an environment that Van der Poel himself described on social media as “a gravel paradise.”

And indeed, Girona will be the epicenter of The Traka from May 1 to 3, an event that has gained prominence on the international calendar and this year features Ovett among its participants.

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Beyond the training, what has really ignited interest is a comment from Van der Poel himself on his partner's post. The Dutchman wrote in an apparently relaxed tone “there's just over a week left and I'm starting to get a little nervous.”

Ovett's response reinforced the idea of a joint involvement by stating, “we're in this together,” fueling the possibility that the Dutch champion may not be alone as a companion this time.

As of today, Van der Poel is not listed among the participants, and his team has not communicated any last-minute participation. However, Mathieu's interest in The Traka goes back a while, and after winning the Gravel World Championship, he mentioned that he would like to do this race at some point. Will this be the moment?