Mathieu van der Poel wants to be the next XCO World Champion

Mathieu van der Poel may have restructured his calendar for the rest of the year after his polemic crash at the Tokyo Olympics. The more than commented fall put an end to Van der Poel's Olympic dream and that's why it seems that the Dutchman doesn't want to end his MTB season. The World Championship in Val di Sole will be his next objective.

Van der Poel sets his eyes on the World Championship in Val di Sole

According to Netherlands national team coach Gerben de Knegt, Van der Poel underwent medical checks on Monday to rule out any injuries associated with the fall and when he got the all clear he was quick to say he wanted to be at the XCO World Cup in Val di Sole on 24-29 August. "I wasn't sure, but after the (Olympic) race I was convinced. He also needs to accumulate the important UCI points."

His return to road cycling will be ahead of the World Road Cycling Championships in Slovenia from 19 to 23 September, and for Paris Roubaix on 3 October.