"Mathieu van der Poel to return to racing following his withdrawal from the Tour de France, as he prepares to compete in a criterium event in the Netherlands"
Mathieu van der Poel Returns to Racing After Pneumonia Recovery
Mathieu van der Poel, the Dutch cycling sensation, is set to make his comeback to racing on August 11, 2025, at the Profronde de Etten-Leur, a Dutch exhibition criterium. This marks his first appearance back in competition since his unfortunate withdrawal from the 2025 Tour de France due to pneumonia.
Van der Poel's illness forced him to leave the Tour de France before the start of the 16th stage. In the race, he had been holding the yellow jersey for four days and had won the second stage. His performance in the Tour was considered the best of his career before the setback.
The cyclist's recovery included a training camp in Spain, and he has since resumed outdoor training with his teammate Jasper Philipsen. Looking ahead, Van der Poel’s main remaining objective for the 2025 season is the Mountain Bike World Championships in Switzerland in September. Although not yet confirmed, it is expected he may compete in the XCO World Cup event in Haute-Savoie, France, at the end of August, serving as preparation for the World Championships.
This shift in focus towards mountain bike competition aligns with Van der Poel's plans for the remainder of the 2025 season. No further road race targets or continuation beyond the World Championships have been announced at this time.
Notable competitors such as Tim Wellens and Thymen Arensman, Tour de France stage winners, and Pauline Ferrand-Prevéot, the winner of the Tour de France Femmes, will also be competing in Etten-Leur alongside Van der Poel. Lotte Kopecky, the current world champion, is also among the big stars announced for the event.
Tadej Pogačar, another Tour de France contender, was a notable competitor alongside Van der Poel during the first week of the Tour de France. The Profronde Etten-Leur organizers are delighted to announce Van der Poel as their headline starter for the event.
As Van der Poel takes to the race track in Etten-Leur, cycling enthusiasts worldwide will be eager to see how he fares after his recovery from pneumonia and his shift in focus to mountain biking for the remainder of the 2025 season.
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