Van der Poel gets "attacking squad" for World Championships, with strong riders and (better) climbers
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Follow us on GoogleMathieu van der Poel will have eight strong teammates for the World Championships in Zürich, as announced by the Royal Dutch Cycling Federation (KNWU) through official channels. Alpecin-Deceuninck's defending champion will be supported by riders including Wilco Kelderman, Frank van den Broek and Bauke Mollema.
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National coach Koos Moerenhout has known all year that Van der Poel was eager to defend his Glasgow world title in Zürich, even though the Dutchman admitted that the course in Switzerland might be a bit too demanding for him. For that reason, stronger climbers like Kelderman, Van den Broek, Mollema, as well as Sam Oomen and Bart Lemmen, will be part of the team. The selection is completed by strong riders Oscar Riesebeek, Sjoerd Bax and Daan Hoole, the latter also set to compete in the time trial at the World Championships.
The time trial is scheduled for September 22, with the road race taking place on September 29. The challenging course in Zürich features 274 kilometers and 4,500 meters of elevation gain. The KNWU has described the Dutch squad as "an attacking selection". Riesebeek is seen as a trusted confidant of Van der Poel, being his teammate at Alpecin-Deceuninck. "We're aiming for the highest achievable result, although it won't be easy. Many nations are in the running for medals, so I'm looking forward to an attacking race," said Moerenhout.
The Dutch team's strategy, according to the national coach — who confirmed that the Netherlands will not participate in the Mixed Team Relay — will largely depend on Van der Poel's form. "I have great confidence in this team, a mix of experienced and younger riders, suited to the difficulty of the course. I expect an exciting battle, where anything can happen on this type of terrain. And, of course, we're hoping for another fantastic result with Mathieu, and that's what we'll be fighting for as a team."
Selection Netherlands - World cycling championship 2024 - men's elite
Road race
Mathieu van der Poel
Oscar Riesebeek
Wilco Kelderman
Bart Lemmen
Frank van den Broek
Daan Hoole
Bauke Mollema
Sam Oomen
Sjoerd Bax
Mathieu van der Poel
Oscar Riesebeek
Wilco Kelderman
Bart Lemmen
Frank van den Broek
Daan Hoole
Bauke Mollema
Sam Oomen
Sjoerd Bax
Time trial
Daan Hoole
Daan Hoole
Selection Netherlands - World cycling championship 2024 - men's U23
Road race
Huub Artz
Tibor del Grosso
Wessel Mouris
Darren van Bekkum
Menno Huizing
Huub Artz
Tibor del Grosso
Wessel Mouris
Darren van Bekkum
Menno Huizing
Time trial
Wessel Mouris
Menno Huizing
Wessel Mouris
Menno Huizing
Selection Netherlands - World cycling championship 2024 - men's juniors
Road race
Senna Remijn
Ko Molenaar
Jurgen Summer Month
Ruud Nagengast
Gijs Schoonvelde
Senna Remijn
Ko Molenaar
Jurgen Summer Month
Ruud Nagengast
Gijs Schoonvelde
Time trial
Michiel Mouris
Senna Remijn
Michiel Mouris
Senna Remijn

Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- Why would a mountain time trial be different from a normal one? Is it just that the riders have to climb the whole course?samanthak03-11-2026
- I don’t quite buy the “fear of failure” argument. Riders can race the Giro and still have confidence in July; it comes down to recovery and planning, doesn’t it?patriciaw03-11-2026
- The Giro-Tour double is a massive ask, even for the very best. Pogačar made it look almost routine in 2024, but that’s hardly a sensible benchmark for everyone else!pedalpowe2903-11-2026
- Bakelants makes a fair point: if the 2027 Tour really suits Remco, he can’t afford to dilute the build-up. That 37km flat TT will be tempting, mind.julien03-11-2026
- Mont Blanc sounds like a spectacular finish, though four climbs on the final day might be a bit much after eight hard stages. Hope the route details are clear soon.raceready703-11-2026
- Is the Valdigne time trial uphill all the way, or are there flatter sections too? I’m still figuring out how these stages work.jennifer1903-11-2026
- Three sprint chances, then all that climbing? The GC battle should really take shape after Passo San Marco. Can’t wait!robert6503-11-2026
- Finishing on the same day the men race Stage 20 is a nice touch, but I hope the women’s race gets plenty of coverage too.pedalpowe2903-11-2026
- Three mountain finishes and an uphill time trial—this route looks tailor-made for Vollering. That final stage to Mont Blanc could be brutal.cadencekingm03-11-2026
- Seixas has said he’s bored with the transfer talk, so maybe the article could give more space to the racing itself. He’s under contract until 2027; there’s no need to turn every appearance into a signing saga.velodromevirtuoso103-11-2026