Remco Evenepoel went for a ride with Van der Poel after taking a helicopter ride over the F1 circuit

We haven’t heard much from Mathieu van der Poel since his phenomenal victory on the Champs-Élysées. The Dutch rider from Alpecin-Premier Tech announced that he would be focusing more on mountain biking again, where he’ll once more try to become world champion. Recently, however, he was out riding with his training partner Freddy Ovett, and later with Remco Evenepoel.

Van der Poel shone in the Tour de France, first claiming victory in spectacular fashion in the breakaway stage to Ussel, but he saved the best for last. Together with Tadej Pogacar, he put on a spectacular show on Montmartre, where the two rode away together. Van der Poel then managed to stay just ahead of the sprinters in the final kilometer.

It was celebrated with great fanfare, but we won’t be seeing the superstar on a road bike for the time being. After the Tour de France, he decided to change course and focus on mountain biking. There, he’ll try to win the World Championships in Val di Sole. Later, we’ll likely see him competing for the rainbow jersey on the road in Montreal as well.

"After the Tour, my full focus will be on mountain biking. I’ll still have a month to prepare for the World Championships," he explained earlier this month. "Normally, I’ll do one more World Cup race, just like last year in Les Gets (on August 23, ed.). And then the World Championships."

Van der Poel is now back in Dénia, on the Costa Blanca, his usual base. And when the Dutchman is there, you’ll often see him out on his bike with Freddy Ovett. This time was no exception: together with the Australian, he opted not for a road workout or a mountain bike ride, but for the gravel bike. That did mean he had to walk a bit...

Later, he sought out Remco Evenepoel. The Belgian rider from Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe was initially in Austria to take a helicopter ride over the Formula 1 circuit in Spielberg, but later went out with Van der Poel, as can be seen on Instagram.