Mathieu van der Poel Wants to try Enduro Racing

Feb 6, 2020
by Ed Spratt  
Surely the first of many for Mathieu Van Der Poel.

After securing his third cyclocross World Championship title, Mathieu van der Poel told Cycling News that he would love to race Enduro.

The 25-year-old rider who won his third cyclocross World Championship last weekend told in an interview with Cycling News his admiration for enduro racing, although he does say it would be difficult to fit it into an already packed year-round racing schedule.

"I would love to do enduro races but it's not possible to combine. I think it's one of the coolest disciplines around but for now, I have my hands full with these (other) disciplines,"

Mathieu Van Der Poel lead Nino Schurter out in the last lap and stayed there.

Alongside his comments about enduro Mathieu also stated that his future in MTB is not yet decided after he has previously made the suggestion that he may focus on road racing after the Olympics.

bigquotesThe way I do road cycling, it is possible to combine with mountain bike but if you do the Grand Tours then it's not possible anymore

The Dutch cyclist told Cycling News: "I think that Classics races and mountain bike is something you can combine, but not a full road season.

"Doing a Grand Tour is on the bucket list, to do it once, but mountain biking is a sport I love so much that it would be hard to say goodbye. Of course, I will have to make a decision some time. My grandfather [Raymond Poulidor] was more of a Grand Tour rider than I am. I know for sure I'm not climbing fast enough to follow the guys to be in front of the general classification."

Mathieu has dominated short track racing and been a constant threat for the podium at XC World Cups since he first dipped his toes into elite mountain bike racing in 2017. Now, with him finally securing victory over Nino Schurter last year in Nove Mesto, he has made no secret of the fact he is targeting an Olympic gold medal this summer in Tokyo. If he does decide to keep racing mountain bikes for a little while longer, it will be interesting to see the continued fight on track with Nino, and who wouldn't want to see him take his immense power on the bike to an enduro race?

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186 Comments
  • 195 7
 The best all around male cyclist on the planet.
  • 34 0
 Hell yeah!! Imagine if you could win at all disciplines. That would be so cool!!
  • 71 1
 @bedell99: Back to the old days of John Tomac!
  • 8 163
flag mkotowski1 (Feb 6, 2020 at 8:31) (Below Threshold)
 But a mediocre technical mountain biker at best
  • 35 2
 @mkotowski1: Wrong.
  • 81 0
 @mkotowski1: Scared Lycra man is going to be faster than you?
  • 25 0
 @mkotowski1: I don’t think the general public understands how good these guys and girls are at the WC Level. They have been riding bikes of all kinds since grade school and generally rip on all terrain. Look at Nino. Guy is just fast. In XC now you have to be good at climbing and just as fast at descending in order to win.
  • 32 16
 I think it is safe to leave the word male out of that statement.
  • 10 3
 @bedell99: the top folks who get the televised spots are amazing both up and down, but look closer to the back of the pack and you have people walking down tech sections at some races. I understand they aren't dh or enduro athletes but being able to complete a lap should be a qualification requirement.
  • 29 0
 @mkotowski1: Yeah, he needs to practice more. He really should be doing more technical mountain bike riding in between his 3 cyclocross world championships, his 2nd place overall finish in XC last year, and his mutiple spring classic victories on a road bike. /s

So yeah, If that's what being a mediocre technical mountain biker looks like where do I sign up???
  • 4 18
flag mkotowski1 (Feb 6, 2020 at 9:07) (Below Threshold)
 @jeza08: I mean def faster than me lol
  • 5 32
flag mkotowski1 (Feb 6, 2020 at 9:28) (Below Threshold)
 @OCSunDevil: just I believe enduro and downhill cross over into where a different skill set becomes the most valuable. I don’t think Sam Hill has a vO2 max anywhere near van der poles but does that matter at all in downhill and enduro? Maybe upduro or down country
  • 26 61
flag Boosting (Feb 6, 2020 at 9:52) (Below Threshold)
 @mkotowski1: you obviously have no f*cking clue of what you're babbling about and are making assumptions. Stfu and accept the fact that he is a god on a bicycle. He does dirt jump and BMX in his free time and I'm pretty sure he himself knows if he has what it takes to compete at the EWS or not and I tend to trust him but than your stupid ass.
  • 30 10
 @Boosting: damn I didn’t even say anything harsh lol
  • 23 8
 @Boosting: so angry rawwwwrr
  • 29 4
 @Boosting: look at you all over pb, every comment section you’re all over it like a fly on shit. Proper little bitch aren’t you?
  • 3 47
flag Boosting (Feb 6, 2020 at 10:00) (Below Threshold)
 @CrispyNuggs: where ever you spit your bullshit I'll be right there to bring you back to earth
  • 12 1
 @Boosting: cool, I’m still waiting.
  • 2 22
flag bohns (Feb 6, 2020 at 10:20) (Below Threshold)
 @jeza08: who cares if hes faster.. If he does a rampage event or a slopestyle then he could be in the camp of best all round.
  • 11 0
 @j-t-g: I HAVE seen some riders walking but often I think that may be an issue where one person screws up in a tight section and then the train has to stop. Some of those technical steeps need to be ridden with momentum. Meaning if that guy from the back of the pack was out there alone, he makes it down no problem. But having to slam his brakes in the middle with 12 other rider clamoring around him? That's different and then it's just a snowball effect.
  • 8 0
 Previously, I think it was Tracey Moseley in her prime.
  • 2 0
 @bohns1: I think rampage or any bike fest like that is to much of a niche to include in a all rounder.
  • 16 13
 There's a world of difference between cyclocross and XC, and Enduro and DH. If Gwin can't win races anymore, no way a roadie has a cat in hell's chance.

I get it, he's really fit, he's a great bike handler, he does DJ in his free time apparently. I also do DJ in my free time. I don't know who would write that, it means nothing. I also surf for fun, but would not paddle out at Pipeline when it was popping off. I play rugby for fun but am not about to get called up for England.

I don't doubt that if he set his mind to it and did a full season of Enduro he could do well at it. Win races? Maybe. Who knows? I guess we won't find out because he isn't going to do it. There is not a chance of him turning up to an enduro race unannounced and winning it. No way.

It's just another tabloid article where the headline is kind of out of context to suck you in.
  • 15 0
 @bedell99: I can honestly say that i'm as fast descending as i am climbing.

How i wish it weren't true.
  • 1 0
 #samhill
  • 2 0
 @fabwizard: i was being sarcastic.
  • 3 1
 @jaame:"Race enduro" is a far cry from winning. I "Race " enduro but I have no dreams of winning, i am just there for the good times with my son(who is trying to win).

And i agree, no way he will win even with a year of specific training.
  • 7 0
 @mkotowski1: if only I could have the mediocre tech skills of van der poel, the laughable Vo2 of sam hill, and maybe a little of Looc Bruni's passable decending skills I could be the most OK ever.
  • 1 2
 @Boosting: van der pole May ball hard but he will never steal cars ????
  • 1 0
 @mkotowski1: what are you stupid?
  • 1 0
 A new Tomac
  • 7 0
 @bedell99: Pauline FP did it in 2015 : road, XC and cyclo cross WC. She's the first and only rider who did it
  • 2 0
 @jaame:
I agree 100%. If you see the video of Levy with Gee Atherton, you really get a feeling of how the top down hill guys approach a gnarly steep downhill section. You only reach that level with years of downhill specific training. I'm sure guys like MvdP and Nino will be fast, but the top 20 in EWS are just on a next level.
  • 3 4
 @Whipperman: she’s a woman so it doesn’t count for anywhere near as much. Depth of field is not in the same ball park as men’s racing.
  • 1 1
 Vert ramp at X Games next. He is going to have to put gyro brakes on the rear, front brake line through the steer tube, and go single speed to get ride of the gear lines if he expects to do bar spins on that 29er. Don't let every downhill videos deceive you...whip after whip is not going to cut it at the X games.
  • 1 0
 @bedell99:
Yeah, if in person you see how truly steep, rocky and technical the XC courses are...you would be amazed. TV goes all of the courses no justice.

Then you look at the bike and say "Why are your handlebars two feet lower than your seat? 1994 is over. LOL
  • 3 0
 @jaame: assumptions assumptions.
  • 3 0
 Peakless lid, tall white socks, lycra... just bring that style to enduro and we'll all be stoked AF
  • 2 0
 Id like to see him race Enduro with road cleats
  • 1 0
 @enis: While odd, dont think it would affect that much, unless there was a big hike a bike section. Or were you really referring to road shoes? Even then not much difference.
  • 1 0
 @fabwizard:

Nope, just the cleats duck taped to his barefeet while riding flats
  • 1 0
 @enis: He will win for sure then.
  • 3 0
 @IntoTheEverflow: Marianne Vos might quibble. MvdP would have to take up track too.
  • 2 2
 @blackthorne: yes, I am assuming that when a greater number of people engage in a competition, the odds of success fall.
It’s a wacky idea I know, but you could try it yourself. First, get a piece of fruit. An orange, for example. Put the orange on the floor. You and one friend walk away from the orange, then race to get the orange first. Do the experiment a few times and record the results. Now perform the experiment again but this time use 100 friends as opposed to one. You will probably find that the number of times you win the orange falls considerably when you were racing the 100 friends, when compared to racing just one.
  • 1 1
 @djmu: Mathieu will crush Marianne Vos at every kind of biking.
She might very well be the best all around female cyclist on the planet though.
  • 1 0
 @Boosting: take it easy mr. Superhero
  • 1 0
 @mkotowski1: check out the video of him knocking the rock off the road with his wheel during roubaix. Then adjust your opinion.

youtu.be/S7OuDeVbhxs
  • 2 0
 @jaame: he's not a roadie. His junior years were spent in cyclocross, which requires exceptional technical skills at the world class level - power alone won't do it. The difference between enduro and cross is the speeds, but the fundamental skills are the same. I wouldn't underestimate this guy.
  • 135 0
 Time for a hot lap challenge?? I bet a lot of us would love to see how he compares.
  • 24 0
 ^ this. call him up, Pinkbike!
  • 17 42
flag Boosting (Feb 6, 2020 at 9:53) (Below Threshold)
 @ipattis: I'm sure he will jeopardize his season to hang out with the dorks from pb.
  • 14 3
 @Boosting: including yourself in the dorks, you’re one of the biggest on here, king of the dorks. How ironic.
  • 5 31
flag Boosting (Feb 6, 2020 at 9:58) (Below Threshold)
 @CrispyNuggs: wow that was a massive insult. You got me!
  • 8 3
 @Boosting: good, always can tell who’s a wannabe big man with a fragile ego by the way they cry on the internet all the time haha
  • 2 26
flag Boosting (Feb 6, 2020 at 10:03) (Below Threshold)
 @CrispyNuggs: haha you got me again! That was so good
  • 1 1
 @Boosting: s works baby!
  • 3 2
 @Boosting: You really are just shotgun diarrhea waiting to happen on any comment you can aim your dirty little troll butthole at, aren't you?
  • 4 0
 @panchog: 'shotgun diarrhea' - if i use this as a trail name i will give you full credit
  • 2 0
 @Boosting: ok dork
  • 62 1
 "Doing a Grand Tour is on the bucket list, to do it once...." - I like his approach - sorta, sure let's do this now. . ... yeah.. . . ok . ... done.. .. moving on to the next best thing ... ..

. ... . why not !? Life's too short to be doing the same thing over and over, day-in day-out Big Grin
  • 60 0
 ". ... . why not !? Life's too short to be doing the same thing over and over, day-in day-out Big Grin"

*cries in cubicle*
  • 2 0
 @fullendurbro: Get back to work
  • 47 0
 Now, both XC and downhill racers will "retire" into racing enduro.
  • 3 44
flag mkotowski1 (Feb 6, 2020 at 8:32) (Below Threshold)
 Xc won’t be able to hang
  • 7 0
 @mkotowski1: hard to say really...I’m sure some of the guys are sleepers.

MVP would be a fun narrative in enduro if it ever happens and he sounds fairly humble about it
  • 9 17
flag Boosting (Feb 6, 2020 at 9:55) (Below Threshold)
 You're a special kind of stupid aren't you? These guys are racing tracks you wouldn't even be able to ride on an e bike with their BPM maxed out and you think they can't handle an Enduro track?
  • 2 8
flag mkotowski1 (Feb 6, 2020 at 10:06) (Below Threshold)
 @Boosting: they can handle it but enduro and downhill guys ride this stuff all day everyday whereas xc and roadies have to commit more time to cardiovascular training
  • 2 3
 @nvranka: true def probs are some sleepers who ride downhill tracks for fun in their off time
  • 3 0
 Cécile is a good example.
  • 6 1
 @mkotowski1:
Downhill and Enduro riders generally split their time between technical riding and endurance/cardio/strength training. To be competitive MVdP would probably have to gain some bulk and some fast twitch muscles that would hurt him in the events he currently dominates.
  • 2 0
 @mkotowski1: In my area (Santa Cruz and surrounding areas), some of the fastest guys on the Strava segment climbs are some of the fastest guys on the more technical downhills in the area.
  • 4 1
 @tacklingdummy: But let's be honest, there's def a type on strava
  • 44 4
 Schurter for enduro!
  • 20 1
 Hell yeah, IMHO i think he is the one XC racer that will do extremely well in enduro, the man is a beast.
  • 14 0
 @fedfox: I would disagree on the "one XC racer" point. There are plenty of others who are amazing. For instance Geoff Kabush is technically an XC racer, wins many enduro races.
  • 9 0
 N1no for PB hot lap
  • 1 0
 That would indeed be super interesting! He did race DH in the past, btw.
  • 1 0
 @bsavery: Kabush is a shredder.
  • 1 0
 He would shred
  • 38 1
 One of the coolest riders out there. Awesome the exposure he’s bringing to both cyclocross and mtb by crossing over between disciplines
  • 34 0
 Time for a Pinkbike poll question:
The 2024 Summer Olympics have introduced a new event: the cycling pentathlon consisting of the following events:

150 km Road Race
1 hr cyclocross
XC mountain bike
2 day enduro mtb
Downhill mtb

Which athletes past or present would have a realistic shot at winning this event?

I'll start with Peter Sagan.
  • 27 1
 MvdP will win by a landslide
  • 12 1
 @11ants: I'd counter that with Cadel Evans
  • 18 0
 Jolanda Neff FTW
  • 6 0
 That'd be so cool... Peter and MvdP would be my top 2 choices. But after seeing how much training all disciplines are putting in these days I wouldn't be surprised to see someone like Loic or Amaury be competitive with a year or 2 to prepare. Make it 4 events (2 endurance/2 gravity) and you'd really see some interesting strategy.
  • 7 1
 Tomac.
  • 7 1
 Nino would also stand a chance, he would win enduro and downhill over Sagan and van der pole and could possibly win xc and cyclocross
  • 8 0
 @mkotowski1: No one will beat MvdP in Cyclocross (he did win 50 of his last 51 cross races), Nino will have a hard time finishing in the top 10 in a WC Cross these days.
Both Sagan an Nino are over their top in my eyes. Last season MvdP won 10-1 against Nino in XCC and XCO events.
  • 14 0
 Ned Overend. And I mean, not like him 20 years ago. I mean today, 64yo Ned.
  • 3 0
 Everyone forgets Sagan was a junior CX world champ.
  • 16 0
 Make it one bike, but you can swap tires between events
  • 8 0
 I vote for Tomi Misser. Many will not remember this DH WC winner of the 90's, but at 45 now, he is still winning many of the marathon, xc, and enduro races he is participating just for fun. And not just in his master category, sometimes the overall... Last year he won the World Masters in XC and in DH... using an enduro bike.
  • 9 1
 Tinker FTW.
  • 2 0
 @FisherFreerider: Yep he was and a Junior European champ in XCO too.if I remember well..... the thing is he "was"
MvdP is the only male rider ever to win Road, Cross and XCO at the highest level in the same season ...and he's doing it now
  • 4 0
 Warner
  • 3 0
 @GOrtho: yeah Jolanda!
  • 1 0
 @11ants: but we're talking past or present. So assuming all athletes at their prime.
  • 1 1
 Anyone remember ABC Sports Superbikers TV show?
  • 5 0
 John Tomac!
  • 2 0
 @burkerider:
Evans
  • 2 0
 @burkerider: So you are purporting that Sagan's junior titles equal MvdP's proven ability to win at the senior elite level in both XC and CX? MvdP's proven prime ability in any other discipline but road (on which he is no slouch) is way beyond Sagan's.
  • 5 0
 That would be awesome!!! No idea who would win. But if they had that format for fat old doodz with kids and a job I’d giver’. And suffer greatly.
  • 1 0
 @hhaaiirryy: Eli would have a serious chance to win. I’d cheer my ass off for JT. But ET3 would be worth putting money on.
  • 4 0
 Pauline would also do well...
  • 4 0
 @GOrtho: I'll take your Jolanda and raise you a PFP.
  • 2 1
 Nino. It wouldnt even be close.
  • 3 0
 Graves.
  • 2 0
 Honestly... i think id have a decent chance
  • 1 0
 Ryder Hesjedal
  • 1 1
 Mark Weir (pre-ebike)
  • 1 0
 @kirat: Tomi is a beast, for sure.
  • 13 1
 Give him the right bike and 2 seasons and he'll be on the podium, reading the comments many of you underestimate his skills just because he's strong too. Rides MX, Downhill and Dirtbike for fun at a level most here can only dream of.

www.facebook.com/mathieu.vanderpoel/videos/1905961822954786

www.facebook.com/mathieu.vanderpoel/videos/1614187082132263
  • 5 9
flag WAKIdesigns (Feb 6, 2020 at 9:42) (Below Threshold)
 It takes much more than that mate... Coming to a race track and being comfortable on it is miles ahead of barely making it. And miles behind being competitive at highest level. Just because he can do dirt jumps doesn’t mean much. Wanna proof? - I’d send those easy. Way from making it just fine to shredding it apart is often longer than from not making it at all to making it just fine. He’s an exceptional CXer and XCer and overally exceptional athlete but you just don’t knock elbows with Sam Hill or Eddie Masters after 2 years of changing focus. When it comes to skill based sports, at Matthieus age your pretty much as programmed and developed as you can be in the directions you’ve been following. Otherwise it would mean Enduro or DH racers are slacking off. They aren’t
  • 5 1
 @WAKIdesigns: @WAKIdesigns: You could say the exact same thing about his road campaign this past Spring and look what he did.. the dude won races that are 6-7hrs in length against the best and strongest in the world just months after coming from 1hr efforts in CX. MvDP is such a beyond exceptional athlete who already has incredible skills, I have zero doubt that even after a year he would be breaking top 5 in Enduro events. Nino could get top 5 now! The guy does his off-season on a 140mm trail/enduro bike anyways.
  • 5 5
 @cgreaseman: CXers and XCers ride sht loads of road... did you you just compare road to riding down the hill?
  • 3 0
 @WAKIdesigns: Contrary to popular belief Downhill and Enduro riders are also fit as hell on the road nowadays. I'm not saying most Road Cyclist have the ability to hang with DH or Enduro riders, I'm saying MvDP does and could if he wanted to.
  • 5 8
 @cgreaseman: you seem to underestimate how much time and effort it takes to develop skill and experience to ride at top level of DH and Enduro is even harder because most of the time you are riding barely known terrain. Somyou must be good at reqding terrain and applying skill to it. Mathieu cannot be outstanding at it because he must devote so much time to pedaling to be outstanding at CX and XC. Oh he can send steep lips, that’s cute. I am not your popular belief guy. i am very unpopular Smile
  • 2 0
 @WAKIdesigns @cgreaseman : MvDP didn't say he would win the EWS champ. He just said he would like to try enduro. And he didn't mention a particular level or performance goals. He also stated that it is currently impossible given his schedule.

So the reality is that your are all agreeing with each other.
  • 3 1
 @opignonlibre: i agree with you.
  • 1 1
 @cgreaseman: now way he will ever get top 5 in enduro, he will be too scared to risk injury to push hard enough, none of the enduro masters have plans to finish a grand tour in their future...
  • 3 0
 @WAKIdesigns: @WAKIdesigns: He's been riding BMX, MX, Dirt and DH from a young age .... the exact reason he could transform himself to a level he beat Schurter 10 out of 11 last season .... and not being dropped in the DH's by him anymore.
Also combining this with winning road races and being unbeatable in CX the whole winter

You comparing yourself to VdP is pretty pathetic, he's a full time pro in all he does. He's modest too, just says he'd like to compete in EWS as he loves the sport.... the thing is that he's a sore "loser" so be sure he's ready if ever he decides to give it ago ...... chances are slim though Frown
  • 13 0
 He's a cool kid isn’t he? Just wants to have a go at everything and who can blame him.
  • 43 9
 Internet. Internet will blame him
  • 4 1
 @WAKIdesigns: so, no one?

People on the internet are as irrelevant as flat earthers
  • 4 4
 @nvranka: yeah that’s why Facebook’s net worth is almost a trillion dollars
  • 12 0
 @WAKIdesigns: dont use it, dont care

I am not here to deny the power of the internet...I just consider the voices on it to be irrelevant to my life.
  • 15 2
 That would be insane. He’s got amazing handling skills.
  • 13 1
 I think it’s safe to say most of us PBers would love to see him race enduro. Dude is an absolute beast.
  • 12 2
 Nothing tried, nothing gained.....
  • 10 0
 My grandfather [Raymond Poulidor]

Wait, what ??!! 0_0
  • 10 0
 Yes, his grandfather, the recently deceased Raymond Poulidor, was one of the greatest cyclists to ever ride a bike. His dad was no slouch, either. Dude won the genetic lottery.
  • 4 0
 @LeDuke: I guess I crapped out with mine #donutlife
  • 4 0
 As a frenchy, how could you NOT know that Big Grin
  • 1 0
 @RoadRunner13: road bike?
  • 19 11
 MVDP: I won some Cyclocross races, So I want to try Supercross... I will ask my friend Jeremy McGrath for help
  • 2 0
 lol
  • 9 1
 Funnily he spends time training on dirt bikes. So with him you never know...
  • 11 3
 He didn't win "some" he won 50 out of his last 51 races .....(that includes two world titels)
  • 4 0
 Definitely cool move. Especially as after already having grabbed some mainstream attention, he would actually take that along and actually point the world media at enduro racing. I think it is cool.
  • 3 0
 Go on try it all! It's just a bike and we'll watch all of it. That was a humble statement about not being strong enough to hang with the GC riders but honestly we don't care. We just want to see you try. Best of luck this season and have fun.
  • 4 0
 MVdP is a legitimate generational talent and could probably dominate in any genre of cycling he chose to... I'd love to see him ride enduro, the guy is always fun to watch and just an amazing competitor.
  • 3 1
 The XC tracks are certainly no cakewalk (in some cases), but does he have Martin Maes, Sam Hill, or Richie Rude level descending skills? Obviously fitness is huge, but when up against those guys does that massive overall fitness really help? They're already pushing the limits of what's even possible for speed and line choice, so being fit can only have so much of an impact. Hm. Hopefully we get to find out. Smile
  • 2 0
 My prediction.... Once he tastes the money he can earn in road cycling he will be gone for few years at least into road cycling. Money in professional road cycling is in general magnitudes higher than cyclocros/MTB. With his skills and determination he can for sure get into 1M+ $ range easily...
  • 2 0
 Not disagreeing with your general take, but he is already way, way past the 1 million mark. He earns already 1 mln just on teamcontract and you can add in price money and extra commercial work.

Even if he just did CX he would hit the million mark.... (top Belgian/Dutch CX earn very well).
If he did just XC? I assume he would still get there considering he's the only Dutchman at that level.

Still, road is much more, if his road campaign is as good as 2019 you will be looking at Saganish contract money.

So yeah, he will most likely focus on the road for quite a bit.
  • 5 0
 I want to see mvdp vs peto in a multi discipline ultra grand tour
  • 1 0
 I’ve never ridden EWS. I’ve ridden several BME races and several smaller enduro races around Colorado. There is a shit-ton of in-stage pedaling in the enduro races that I have done. Maybe EWS courses are different. I have no idea if MvDP would win, place or show. But I have no doubt that he wouldn’t suck and there is a ton of time to be made just by putting down power. Sam Hill took a season or 2 in the EWS to dominate. And he’s Sam MF’n Hill.
  • 1 0
 @Ronkol: He makes more than enough and decided to extend his current contract mostly because his current team let him do what he likes ..... He make 2 million a year easily and is free to do what he likes (Skiing at the moment, weeks before road season starts Wink ).
  • 1 0
 Maybe he'll be caught some day. There are limits to vascularity, hct, vo2max etc. When I see someone so far ahead of a professional field I am immediately skeptical. He is fun to watch race, has amazing skills and isn't an out-of-nowhere rider like Froome, yet I will remain a skeptic.
  • 1 0
 He won't do it (except for the fun of it) because there's no money in enduro, not like there is in road, xc, or cx. But what if Nino, MvdP, Sagan, and others did make the move to EWS, the money would pour into that sport. Then perhaps, top cycling discipline?
  • 2 0
 He's a beast. I wouldn't put anything past him. And I've seen him go full send off sizable drops on an XC bike, I'd love to see him do it on an Enduro.
  • 2 0
 His maternal grandfather is Raymond Poulidor, and his father is Adri Van der Poel. Anyone racing against this guy knows what it feels like to run a marathon against Kenyans.
  • 2 0
 Just wait until they start shrinking the liaison cut off times.. or give time bonus or penalty. Its bound to happen soon or or later.
  • 1 1
 That boy has lungs and skills. I don’t think he’d crush enduro right away but if he dedicated training to it I think he could. He is super comfortable on a bike like many of the top pros. Many of those skills are transferable.
  • 3 0
 whats up next for this guy supercross A1 in 2021??
  • 2 0
 I wonder how many pros would switch to EWS if it had XC money... You know they all think it looks like more fun!
  • 2 0
 RIP Raymond Poulidor, just passed in November. Didn't know he was MvDP's gramps!
  • 6 5
 YOURE SO BUMMED IF THIS DUDE DECIDES TO BIKE RACE YOU. ON ANY BIKE. IF THIS DUDE DECIDES TO WIN AN ENDURO RACE HE WILL WIN AN ENDURO RACE. THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.
  • 7 0
 It’s in all caps, so I believe it.
  • 2 0
 Saw him last weekend in Switzerland for the CX Worlds. Impressive in real action, really.
  • 1 0
 Do it Mathieu. Enduro is an amazing combination of downhill and XC, and the cycling community would love to see you give it a shot.
  • 11 11
 This guy is a true prodigy but he is a peddler not a descender, not sure if he would do great but im sure he will at least do OK.
  • 15 0
 He looked noticably better on the desents in the last races against Schurter in 2019 than the year before. Schurter could not gain much on the descents againt him anymore. And he can sure slide down in the mud on skinny tires.
  • 10 0
 Hard to tell from one short quote but I'd guess he just wants to try an enduro because they look like a blast, he probably knows he wouldn't be doing great at least in an EWS or any world-class field. But he'd be more than respectable and it's a cool cross-over between different two wheel sports.
  • 33 2
 This is a myth about pedalers, that we aren't good descenders. A lot of us who are fast on the climbs are fast because, newsflash, we like to go fast. So the same need for speed transfers to railing the descents, fast as f***. Plus, he'd be riding a bike made for descents, not for climbs- I think he'd be plenty fast given an extra 80mm of travel.
  • 20 0
 Go check his Instagram post from during the off season. He ride dirt jumps that 99% of people on here would never try as well as shreds DH and moto. Sure he’s not as ballsy as Hill or Rude, but I bet he could get a top 30 with some training. Only thing he he seems like such as savage that I wonder if he could stay injury free for a season. He has one speed and it’s GO!
  • 20 0
 MVDP can handle a bike, any bike. Often his advantage in CX racing is his technical bike handling skills. I'm sure he would do just fine in EWS.
  • 1 31
flag b1k35c13nt15t (Feb 6, 2020 at 7:31) (Below Threshold)
 Agreed. If there were timed climbs, then we’d have different winners.
There is a reason DHers “retire” to enduro, it is the same thing only no lift and longer course.
Enduro is dumb.
  • 11 0
 Disagree. XC guys are fast. I live in an area that is saturated with pros, and race pro enduro myself (packfill, nothing great at all and worlds away from being EWS fast). On a trail ride last summer, I ran into an XC pro and he was only a few seconds behind me on the descent, despite being on a 120mm bike.

These dudes shred on skinny tires, short travel, feather weight bikes. I think if you put any XC pro on an enduro bike, great things will happen.
  • 1 0
 @birdman2447: YES.
  • 1 0
 Does he peddle hurt?
  • 1 0
 @fullendurbro: But what if you actually aren’t very fast dh, even though you don’t race xc? It’s possible. Assuming you should be more than 2 sec faster than a pro xc’er on a short dh is just saying you think pedalers are slow.
Either way it’s a false generalization. Many xc’ers just won’t be able to develop ews level bike handling and many ews pros wouldn’t be able to attain fitness for pro xc. Simple as that I think.
  • 3 1
 Hey would crush the competition.
  • 1 0
 My guess those new Canyon enduro bikes that showed up yesterday 1 of those already has his name on it!
  • 2 0
 MVDP vs Levy on cyclross bikes and track in the next, Humbled.
  • 2 0
 If he does race Enduro, he should do it on the Grim Donut.
  • 1 0
 are there rules against speed suits or lycra in enduro like there are in downhill?
  • 1 0
 Half the riders in EWS are wearing baggies and jerseys so tight for better aerodynamics they might as well drop the fashion pretense and just wear lycra anyhow.
  • 2 1
 But what will he do with his Lycra?
  • 1 0
 Imagine all lycra and no transfer seatpost full enduro rider ....
  • 1 0
 Hey gravity boys, MVDP on the way, watch out
  • 1 0
 After Enduro, Red Bull Rampage!
  • 1 0
 Do it !
  • 2 4
 Got trapped by the click bait! Dumb title, dumb article. Thanks pinkbike for wasting my time!!
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