Mathieu van der Poel withdraws from Short Track World Championships

Mathieu van der Poel has withdrawn from the Short Track event at the Mountain Bike World Championships. Although his name initially appeared on the provisional entry lists, he is no longer scheduled to compete in the XCC discipline.

This decision allows the Dutch cyclist to focus exclusively on the XCO race. Van der Poel, who holds world titles in cyclocross, road, and gravel, is prioritizing the XCO title, which remains a major missing piece in his professional achievements. Unlike previous World Cup events where Short Track results could influence starting positions for the main race, the Short Track outcome in this World Championship does not determine the XCO starting grid.