Mathieu van der Poel has made a shock and late resolution to begin his 2025 highway racing season per week sooner than deliberate and can trip the Ename Samyn Basic race on the cobbled of southern Belgium on Tuesday, Cyclingnews understands.
The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider was anticipated to make his season debut at subsequent week’s Tirreno-Adriatico however is outwardly itching to race once more.
A number of studies within the Belgian media reported Van der Poel may change his programme however the Alpecin-Deceuninck initially refused to verify their plans.
A trusted supply informed Cyclingnews that Van der Poel can be in motion on Tuesday.
The Dutchman gained the cyclocross world title on February 2 after which took just a few days off earlier than heading to Spain for a coaching camp on the Syncrosfera altitude lodge.
Rain is forecast for Spain this week and van der Poel maybe noticed the hotter and drier climate forecast for Belgium and determined to scratch his itch to get racing once more.
Van der Poel rode the Le Samyn race in 2021 however was unable to contest the end as hoped after struggling a damaged carbon fibre handlebar within the remaining kilometres of the race.
Based on studies in Belgium, Van der Poel was quietly added to the Alpecin-Deceuninck entry record for Samyn on the weekend and Sep Vanmarcke former rider instructed it was attainable throughout Het Nieuwsblad’s biking podcast on Sunday night.
“If it’s true, will probably be a totally totally different race,” Vanmarcke instructed.
Van der Poel will face Arnaud De Lie (Lotto), Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep), Hugo Hofstetter (Israel-Premier Tech) and Tim Torn Teutenberg (Lidl-Trek) however has an opportunity of profitable on his season debut.
Van der Poel will apparently not change his racing programme any additional and isn’t anticipated to trip subsequent Saturday’s Strade Bianche and so go up in opposition to Tadej Pogačar (UAE Crew Emirates-XRG).
Following his season debut on Tuesday, he’ll trip Tirreno-Adriatico on the Tuscan coast on Monday March 10. His spring Classics programme consists of Milan-San Remo, E3 Saxo Basic, Gent-Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders after which Paris-Roubaix.
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