Van der Poel still struggling with wrist pain: "Mathieu was very motivated to do everything he could"

The story is already well known: Van der Poel crashed twice during the Mountain Bike World Cup in Nové Město, Czech Republic, suffering a small fracture in his wrist. This cast some uncertainty over the Dutch rider's upcoming schedule, but it became clear this week that he would indeed be able to take part in the Critérium du Dauphiné.

Footage of Van der Poel training in Spain quickly surfaced on social media. "Mathieu was very motivated to do everything possible to still be able to ride the Dauphiné," said Roodhooft on behalf of Alpecin-Deceuninck to Sporza. "Despite a painful wrist, he tried to train."

"It didn’t go perfectly, but still quite well. Some days are better than others. But mentally, Mathieu has handled it well. All in all, it wasn’t too bad. It could have been worse," the Belgian team's sporting manager concluded.

The fact that Van der Poel can take part in the Dauphiné as planned is a welcome boost. "Last year, we felt he lacked some race rhythm during the first week of the Tour. That’s why we wanted to take a different approach this time by including the Dauphiné. That plan was at risk because of the wrist fracture."

"It was a clear decision that Mathieu wanted extra racing. That’s why it’s important he can still participate in the Dauphiné. It’s crucial for his Tour de France preparation," said Roodhooft, who tempered expectations for the Dauphiné. "Whether he’ll be successful right away is another matter. But he’ll be there, so he doesn’t miss out on that race sharpness. And if he sees a chance to win one of the early stages, he certainly won’t pass it up."