Mathieu van der Poel to miss European Cycling Championships

Mathieu van der Poel will not participate in the European Road Cycling Championships held in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The decision follows the rider's conclusion of his competitive season at the World Championships.

National coach Koos Moerenhout stated that Van der Poel was explicit about his intention to end his season following the World Championships. Additionally, the specific characteristics of the Ljubljana course, which features a two-kilometer climb with an average gradient of ten percent repeated five times, favor climbers and may not align with Van der Poel's current seasonal focus.

Due to the absence of their primary star and the fact that several other Dutch riders have already finished their seasons or have commercial obligations, the Netherlands will field a younger squad for the event. This shift provides an opportunity for other riders within the national selection to compete.