Mathieu van der Poel will participate in the first edition of the gravel World Cup in Italy on Sunday. It will be his first appearance for the 27-year-old Dutchman since the disastrous World Cup on the road.
Van der Poel’s participation in the World Championships in Australia two weeks ago was a disappointment. He spent part of the night before the game at the police station after bumping into two girls at his hotel. In the race he went down after 30 kilometres.
The children disturbed Van der Poel at night by making noises and knocking on his door several times. De Brabander went for a grumpy story and grabbed a girl, which he later confessed to.
A judge fined Van der Poel the following Monday A$1,500, and turned over €1,000. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider resumed.
Gravel cycling has gained popularity in the cycling world in recent years. Many riders have made the switch from road cycling. Dutchman Ivar Slick won this year’s Unbound Gravel Unofficial World Cup. Laurens ten Dam took fourth place.
The Gravel World Championship begins in Vincenza and ends in Citadel, 194 kilometers away. More than half of the driveway is unpaved. In addition to Van der Poel, riders such as Greg Van Avermaet, Peter Sagan and Zdenek Stybar are first.
