🎥 Without his rainbow jersey, but with a new gravel bike: is van der Poel giving a subtle hint about the World Championships in South Limburg?

The Dutch all-rounder shared a video of himself riding on the Belgian gravel roads. And he's not riding a regular bike, but the new Canyon Grail: a stylish white gravel bike that perfectly matches his rainbow jersey. Last year, van der Poel became world champion in gravel in Leuven, Belgium.

But he has left that jersey in the closet, as the images show. However, the video may say more than just something about his new bike. The UCI is offering van der Poel the opportunity to defend his rainbow jersey in his own country this fall. The world gravel championship will then be held in cycling-mad South Limburg. The date — October 12, 2025 — is undoubtedly already engraved in the 30-year-old Dutchman's mind.

But before October arrives, van der Poel hopes to have already achieved his main goal for the fall. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider is set on the mountain bike world championships in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. On September 14, he wants to win his tenth (!) rainbow jersey — spread over four disciplines—a unique achievement worthy of such a talented athlete.

But first, we will see van der Poel in action during the Tour de France, where several stages in the opening week seem tailor-made for a classic rider. The final stage also promises something special. The ASO has reportedly included the iconic Montmartre climb in the route — a cobbled climb that seems perfect for van der Poel.