'As part of a generation that changed cycling' – Mathieu van der Poel reflects on how he wants to be remembered and confirms main summer racing plans

Mathieu van der Poel has officially confirmed his summer racing schedule, headlined by his sixth consecutive Tour de France appearance. The Dutch phenom, a reigning Road World Champion, will target stage wins in France before shifting focus to the Olympic Games in Paris, where he intends to compete in the Mountain Bike Cross-Country event. This dual-discipline commitment underscores his enduring ambition across cycling's varied terrains.

This announcement is significant, cementing Van der Poel's unique position as a multi-disciplinary superstar. While many riders specialise, MvdP continues to chase glory across road, cyclocross, and mountain biking, a feat few in the modern era can match. His Tour de France participation, even without a general classification ambition, elevates the race's profile, while his Olympic MTB pursuit highlights his commitment to a discipline he's previously dominated but also suffered misfortune in.

Van der Poel's summer plan is a classic MvdP move: defy convention, chase rainbows, and remind everyone that 'off-road' for him is hardly a holiday.