Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is set to return to competition this Sunday at the Profronde Etten-Leur criterium in the Netherlands, marking his first race since being forced out of the Tour de France with pneumonia. The Dutchman had been enjoying his best Tour yet, winning stage 2, wearing the yellow jersey twice, and animating the early stages alongside eventual overall winner Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates). However, after developing worsening symptoms from an initial cold on the second rest day, he was diagnosed with pneumonia and withdrew before stage 16.
Since leaving the Tour, Van der Poel has focused on recovery, gradually resuming training. He first returned to outdoor rides with teammate Jasper Philipsen, then spent recent weeks training in Spain. Now fully fit, he will headline the exhibition race in Etten-Leur, much to the delight of organisers. “Four days in yellow, fighting for every second the Tour’s star rider simply can’t miss this year’s race,” the organisers posted on Instagram. Event chairman Ronnie Buiks emphasised the rarity of attracting such elite names, calling Van der Poel’s presence a major coup.
While the criterium is a lower-stakes outing, it will serve as a key step toward the remainder of his 2025 campaign, which is centred on the Mountain Bike World Championships in Switzerland this September. He is not expected to race the Vuelta a España or the road World Championships.
The Etten-Leur start list boasts a high-profile lineup alongside Van der Poel, including Tour de France Femmes winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, reigning world champion Lotte Kopecky, and Tour stage victors Tim Wellens and Thymen Arensman. The event promises a celebratory return for Van der Poel and a showcase of top-tier cycling talent in the Netherlands.
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