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Follow us on GoogleMathieu van der Poel is engaged. The Dutchman from Alpecin-Premier Tech got down on one knee for his girlfriend Roxanne Bertels, who said yes. The couple is expecting their first child soon, but have decided to live their lives as husband and wife.
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Van der Poel ride with Matt Stephens in London this week
Van der Poel is expecting his first child in January
Bertels and Van der Poel shared a series of photos on Instagram of the beautiful moment. On the coast of the Costa Blanca, the Glasgow world champion knelt down for his girlfriend, who said yes. There is a substantial stone on the ring, as is clearly visible.
Congratulations poured in quickly. Van der Poel's proposal comes after a busy week during which he stayed in London. Upon his return, he got down on one knee for his pregnant girlfriend, who is due in January.
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Van der Poel had a busy week in England
Van der Poel spent the past few weeks at his regular training base on the Costa Blanca, where he completed quite a few training rides. But last week, he headed to England.
First, he appeared at the prestigious Sunningdale Golf Club, where he was able to enjoy his favorite hobby in the county of Berkshire. Afterward, he traveled to the country’s capital.
In London, he was set to be a guest at Rouleur Live, a cycling festival that has been around for over a decade and is growing in popularity.
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Van der Poel was one of the biggest names in attendance, but he first went for a run past the London Eye and Big Ben. After that, he headed to Rouleur Live, where he chatted with fans.
Among other things, he talked about his iconic victory on the Champs-Élysées in this year’s Tour de France (“I don’t remember much about the finish”), and chatted with his buddy Ovett about their training sessions.
There was also time for a fan ride with the former world champion—a loop of about sixty kilometers. After his visit to England, however, he quickly flew back home.
Read more below the photo.
Van der Poel enjoyed his time in London.
Van der Poel Back on the Bike in Spain
Once he arrived in Spain, he quickly got back on his bike, as can be seen on Strava. He went out for a ride with Ovett, as well as with his Dutch friend Luke Verburg, who rides for the continental team Azerion / Villa Valkenburg.
It wasn’t a particularly intense training session: the trio completed an 87-kilometer loop at an average speed of 31 kilometers per hour. Just a nice way to stretch their legs for a bit
It’s possible that Van der Poel is slowly building up toward another cyclocross season, but a return to cyclocross is by no means certain. The eight-time world champion doesn’t yet know if he’ll compete, partly because his girlfriend is pregnant and is due to give birth in January.
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David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- I’m not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026