Nove Mesto plays with mystery with Van der Poel and sparks rumors about his return to XCO

This weekend, the XCO/XCC World Cup lands in Nové Město na Moravě to host the first European event of the season. The Czech race is once again presenting itself as one of the major epicenters of global mountain biking and has already confirmed the presence of several multidisciplinary stars such as Tom Pidcock and Puck Pieterse. However, the organization itself continues to leave the door open for some more surprises. And all eyes are inevitably on Mathieu van der Poel.

The organization hints at a possible surprise… and uses a photo of Van der Poel

On the official website of the Nové Město World Cup, the organization has published a preview of everything that will surround this edition, encouraging the public to attend the circuit during the four days of the event. The program includes races practically without pause, social rides, workshops, BMX and scooter exhibitions, signing sessions, concerts, night shows, and multiple activities for fans and families.

One of the major attractions will be the opportunity to test more than 200 demo bikes, including the new Specialized Epic 9 and the revamped Canyon Lux World Cup CFR. Additionally, there will be guided routes and workshops alongside influencers and well-known figures in MTB.

In the sports section, the organization has already officially confirmed the presence of Pidcock and Pieterse, also reminding that the Brit will only compete in the XCO on Sunday. But what is really striking comes right after. The statement assures that “there could still be one more ace up the sleeve” and hints that someone special might be eager for revenge. They do not directly mention Van der Poel, but the publication is illustrated precisely with an image of the Dutchman. Clear as day.

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The relationship between Van der Poel and Nové Město is not insignificant. There, he has signed some of his most spectacular performances in MTB and also some of his most frustrating moments. The Czech circuit has always been one of the venues where he has felt most comfortable on a mountain bike.

Will Van der Poel have a mini MTB season?

The possibility does not seem so far-fetched considering how his calendar currently fits. Van der Poel disappeared from competition after Paris-Roubaix and has not raced since then. Without Ardennes, without more classics, and without confirmed objectives until the Tour de France, the Dutchman has a block of completely free weeks that fits almost perfectly with several XCO World Cup events.

And all this while he continues to publicly maintain one of the major goals that he still lacks in his career: to win a World Championship in XCO.

At the end of 2025, Van der Poel himself acknowledged that he does not plan to abandon mountain biking until he achieves that rainbow jersey. A challenge he considers comparable to some of Tadej Pogačar's sporting obsessions in the classics.

His current calendar would allow him to compete perfectly in several rounds of the World Cup before the Tour. Nové Město appears as the first major opportunity, followed by Leogang and Lenzerheide in June. Then comes the Tour and, later, the potential major objective: the XCO World Championship in Val di Sole at the end of August.

There is no official confirmation, and the organization is likely playing with that mystery to further heighten expectations around the Czech event. But among the hints dropped from Nové Město, the competitive void of the Dutchman, and his acknowledged obsession with XCO, it is hard not to think that something might be brewing.

Because Van der Poel has already won almost everything on the road. But mountain biking remains that pending account that he has not yet managed to check off.