Mathieu van der Poel Cleared to Race Again — But Chronic Back Injury Threatens Rest of 2025 Season
After weeks of uncertainty and medical evaluations, Dutch cycling superstar Mathieu van der Poel has officially been cleared to return to racing following a prolonged battle with a nagging back injury. While the news offers a glimmer of hope for fans and his Alpecin–Deceuninck team, concerns linger over the long-term impact of the injury on his ability to finish the 2025 cycling season at full strength.
The 30-year-old reigning world champion had missed several key events in late summer, including preparation races for the UCI Road World Championships and the Vuelta a España. His withdrawal from competition in July and August sparked widespread speculation that the injury — which first flared up years ago — might once again derail his season, as it did in 2021.
Despite being medically cleared to race again, team doctors and staff are approaching van der Poel’s return with measured caution, knowing that pushing too hard could worsen the issue and risk not just the rest of 2025, but potentially his participation in the 2026 Spring Classics and even the 2026 Olympics.
A Chronic Battle Resurfaces
Van der Poel’s back problems date back to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, when a dramatic crash during the mountain bike race left him with a spinal contusion and recurring lumbar spine inflammation. Since then, flare-ups have occasionally sidelined him for weeks at a time, even as he’s continued to perform at the highest level in road racing, cyclo-cross, and mountain biking.
Coming off a successful spring campaign in 2025 that included a dominant win at Paris–Roubaix and a podium finish at the Tour of Flanders, van der Poel seemed poised to extend his dominance into the latter half of the season. But after struggling through the Tour de Suisse and pulling out of training camps with lower back tightness, he and his team made the difficult decision in July to suspend his race calendar.
According to Alpecin–Deceuninck medical director Dr. Peter Geysen, the inflammation had worsened to the point where basic training became difficult:
“Mathieu was experiencing pain not only during races, but also during daily training and rest. We decided to pause all high-intensity training and introduce a core rehabilitation protocol to reduce lumbar stress.”
Cleared — But With Limits
Now, after weeks of therapy and rest, van der Poel has passed the necessary physical evaluations to resume low-intensity training and return to racing in controlled environments. His team confirmed on Monday that he has been cleared to compete again, but emphasized that he will not immediately return to a full WorldTour schedule.
“We are glad to see Mathieu back on the bike,” said Alpecin–Deceuninck team manager Christoph Roodhooft. “But we are taking a race-by-race approach. We want to avoid any situation that could cause a recurrence.”
That measured approach likely rules out participation in the upcoming Vuelta a España and may limit his involvement in the UCI Road World Championships in September. Instead, van der Poel is expected to focus on shorter, less demanding races, possibly including the Tour of Britain or select one-day events in Italy and Belgium.
What’s at Stake?
The stakes are high — not just for van der Poel personally, but for his team and the broader cycling world. Known for his aggressive racing style and ability to electrify any course, van der Poel’s absence is always felt. His performances are not only crucial for Alpecin–Deceuninck’s WorldTour rankings, but also for the growing international appeal of cycling, especially among younger audiences.
For van der Poel, the back injury threatens to disrupt what should be the prime years of his career. At 30, he’s in his physical peak, with multiple world titles, five Monument victories, and countless cyclo-cross accolades to his name. He has also expressed interest in targeting the 2026 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, potentially in both mountain biking and road racing — goals that depend on sustained back health over the next 12–18 months.
A Cautious Optimism
While his team remains guarded in its projections, van der Poel himself expressed a mix of optimism and realism during a brief media availability:
“I’m happy to be back, but I know this isn’t the kind of injury you rush. We’ve learned a lot since 2021, and I trust the process. I want to race for many more years — not just for the next few weeks.”
That sentiment reflects a matured perspective from a rider once known for his relentless race calendar across three cycling disciplines. With time no longer on his side as it was five years ago, van der Poel is prioritizing longevity over short-term results.
Looking Ahead
The remainder of the 2025 season now hinges on how van der Poel’s back responds to race conditions. If he recovers well, he could make appearances in the European Classics season finale, such as the Tour of Lombardy, or participate in late-season cyclo-cross races in preparation for a full winter campaign.
If not, van der Poel may shut down the remainder of the season and shift focus to 2026, where the Spring Classics, Tour de France, and Olympic ambitions await.
Either way, his fans — and the entire cycling world — will be watching closely.
Mathieu van der Poel is back, but with a warning: the battle isn’t over yet.
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