"The goal is to feel comfortable": Van der Poel is already acclimatized and training in Crans Montana

Mathieu van der Poel has already landed in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, a week before the XCO World Championship. His main goal of the year is to achieve his first rainbow jersey in this discipline, and the Dutchman from Alpecin-Deceuninck has decided to arrive early to gain adaptation time, both to the altitude and the technical layout of the circuit.

Mathieu van der Poel is already in Crans-Montana to prepare for the XCO World Championship

"It is even a bit higher than Les Gets and I need some time to adapt," explained Van der Poel during the last World Cup in reference to the over 1,500 meters of altitude of the well-known Swiss ski destination.

The main reason for this early move, according to Van der Poel himself, is to thoroughly know the World Championship course. "When I am there, I can also explore the trail several times to feel comfortable. That is the most important goal," he stated.

The Dutchman has already shared images of his arrival in Crans-Montana through his social networks, confirming his commitment to meticulous preparation for the season's big event.

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Van der Poel returned to mountain biking last week during the Les Gets World Cup, where he delivered a remarkable performance. Despite starting from the fifth row, he managed to climb up to the leading group, ultimately finishing in sixth position.

"The goal was to stay on the bike. I achieved it, enjoyed it, and improved more and more. I can be happy with the race I competed in," he expressed satisfactorily.

The performance made it clear that, although he couldn't fight for the victory due to the effort of the comeback, his level is more than competitive just a few days before the World Championship.

On Sunday, September 14, we will see if Van der Poel, after only one XCO race completed this year, is capable of competing for medals alongside the best specialists in the world.