Mathieu van der Poel's support squad named as he chases World Championship glory in Canada

Mathieu van der Poel will lead the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cycling Championships in September. The Dutch rider from Alpecin-Premier Tech has been named as part of a strong Dutch squad that will take on the road race and time trial.

National team coach Koos Moerenhout likely didn't have to think twice about choosing his team leader for Canada. The course in Montréal suits Van der Poel well, and the Dutchman will prepare thoroughly, with the Tour of Luxembourg now on his schedule as a preparatory race.

A total of eight riders have been selected. “We looked for a good balance and for riders who can make a difference at different points on this course,” Moerenhout said in a press release. “With Mathieu, we obviously have someone who knows what it takes to become a world champion, and we’re heading into this World Championship with that same ambition.”

Van der Poel has big ambitions, but Moerenhout emphasises that he’ll need his teammates on a challenging course in Canada. “We have riders who can set the pace, others who can hang on for a long time in a tough race, and riders who know what it takes at a World Championship. That gives us a variety of options.”

The Netherlands believes it can adapt to all kinds of scenarios, with Bauke Mollema standing out as a key figure. The veteran is in his final months as a pro and will compete in his last World Championships. “It’s great that Bauke has made this decision. He’s highly motivated to compete one more time and has shown that he can still make a difference at this level,” said Moerenhout.

"With his experience and skills, he can play an important role. That makes his inclusion great for him, but certainly also for the team," the national team coach added, noting that Daan Hoole is also a strong candidate for the time trial at the World Championships. The towering rider from Decathlon CMA CGM is the only one who will compete in the time trial.

• Mathieu van der Poel

• Daan Hoole (+time trial)

• Bart Lemmen

• Tim van Dijke

• Bauke Mollema

• Pascal Eenkhoorn

• Menno Huising

• Mathijs Paasschens