Matiheu Van der Poel has declared that he will not participate in the World Championships in Rwanda in September because the course is considered too tough for his characteristics.

The former world champion will instead focus on the MTB World Championships , which will also take place in September in Switzerland. The Dutchman will therefore go hunting for the world title in a fourth different discipline, after having won on the road, in cyclocross and in gravel.

Van der Poel, after the usual spring, in which he will start among the favourites in almost all the classics, will participate in the Tour de France , in which, by his own admission, there will be several opportunities for him, especially in the first week.