Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) has been forced to miss the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Dendermonde this weekend as his crash injury has ruled him out. It is the third race he will miss of what was an already shortened cyclocross season.
Van der Poel had been due to compete in GP Sven Nys Baal on New Year’s Day and Vlaamse Duinencross Koksijde (C1) today but had to withdraw from both races.
Even though he hoped to be sufficiently recovered to compete today, that did not come to pass. And he has now been forced out of Dendermonde on Sunday, when fans hoped for a competitive clash between the Dutch rider and Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike).
On his way to victory at Azencross-Loenhout (C1) last Friday, Van der Poel hit a pole and suffered an injury to his ribs. Though he was able to race at UCI World Cup Besançon on Sunday, when he also won, the crash injury has worsened since then.
And though he hoped for a faster recovery, the rib injury has caused lingering pain and he has now confirmed he will not race this weekend.
“There’s no point in waiting any longer,” Van der Poel said in a statement confirming he would not ride. “I did another test today, and it’s clear that Dendermonde comes too soon.
“On heavier off-road terrain, I’m still experiencing too much pain in my rib. I have no choice but to remain patient.”
His team added the world cyclocross champion will go to a training camp in Spain after Dendermonde. Later this month he would then compete at the World Cup races in Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide.
All going well, he will try for his seventh world title in Liévin in early February as the team believes “for now, the rest of his cyclocross program remains unaffected”.
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