Mathieu van der Poel’s return to mountain biking ended in disaster as he crashed twice and sustained a fractured wrist at the MTB World Cup round in Nové Mesto. Alpecin-Deceuninck confirmed that the Dutchman has suffered an avulsion fracture of the scaphoid, raising immediate doubts over his short-term programme, including participation in the Critérium du Dauphiné and potentially the Tour de France.
The injury, described as “a minor avulsion fracture of the scaphoid bone,” suggests ligament damage and is being monitored closely this week. While Van der Poel will miss the start of the team’s altitude training camp in La Plagne, the wider implications remain unclear until further assessments.
The 29-year-old fell just six minutes into the race as he attempted to move around a group of riders on the outside. Leaning into another rider, he lost balance and hit the ground hard, crashing into the fencing. A second crash followed on the pump track section, where he again went over the bars and abandoned the race shortly afterwards.
Scaphoid injuries are not uncommon in cycling due to how riders instinctively land on their hands in falls. The extent of Van der Poel’s recovery will depend on how stable the fracture is and whether it involves any major ligaments. If a key stabilising ligament is damaged, it may delay his return and cause discomfort during races on uneven surfaces like cobblestones.
Sports physician Kris Van der Mieren explained: “Some injuries like this can be ridden through, especially with padding adjustments. But if the ligament damage is more significant or the blood flow to the bone is compromised, it could linger for months.”
Surgeon Joris Duerinckx added that the timeline for recovery depends heavily on which part of the scaphoid is fractured and how much stress is placed on the affected ligament. In the worst-case scenario, Van der Poel could require several weeks of immobilisation – hardly ideal with the Tour de France now just over five weeks away.
Despite early speculation, the team emphasised it is too early to confirm his withdrawal from any races. A more definitive prognosis is expected later in the week.
Van der Poel had recently declared his intention to ride both the Dauphiné and the Tour de France, following a dominant Spring Classics campaign that included victories in Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix.
In contrast, teammate Sam Gaze – also caught up in a crash in Nové Mesto – has escaped with only minor injuries, and scans showed no fractures.
There are also long-term implications for Van der Poel’s mountain bike ambitions. His participation in the Nové Mesto World Cup was part of a broader plan to return to MTB ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. However, his national coach Gerben de Knegt has raised concerns about the feasibility of those plans given Van der Poel’s packed road schedule. “He will really need to commit dedicated time to mountain biking if that’s what he wants. That’s not easy with his road programme,” he told Het Nieuwsblad.
Further updates on Van der Poel’s race programme are expected after a follow-up medical evaluation at the end of the week.
