van der poel breekt strava-stilte met zware bergtraining
Amstelveen, vrijdag, 5 juni 2026.
Mathieu van der Poel heeft na bijna drie jaar weer een fietsactiviteit gedeeld op Strava. De renner plaatste gisteren een zware training van ruim 193 kilometer en bijna 2000 hoogtemeters in Alicante. Hij reed onder andere over de beklimming van La Fustera. Bij de rit staat de tekst “Een belofte is een belofte”. Wat de belofte precies was, is niet bekend. Sinds 2023 liet Van der Poel niets meer zien op de trainingsapp. Zijn plotselinge terugkeer wekt nieuwsgierigheid in de wielerwereld. De training vond plaats in het hoogtehotel Syncrosfera, waar hij zich voorbereidt op de Ronde van Frankrijk. Fans vragen zich af of dit een blijvende comeback op Strava betekent.
break in digital silence
Mathieu van der Poel broke his nearly three-year absence from Strava yesterday by posting a rigorous training ride [1]. The activity covered 193 kilometers with almost 2000 meters of elevation gain [1]. He completed the route in four hours and 53 minutes, averaging 39.5 kilometers per hour [1]. This marks a rare public insight into his preparation outside official race settings [1]. The post carried the caption “Een belofte is een belofte”—a promise is a promise—but the nature of this pledge remains undisclosed [1].
location and purpose
The training took place near the Syncrosfera altitude hotel in Alicante, Spain [1]. Van der Poel is currently based there alongside several teammates [1]. Their collective focus is preparing for the upcoming Tour de France [1]. The region offers challenging terrain ideal for high-intensity mountain workouts [1]. During this particular session, he claimed segment leader times, known as KOMs, on recognized climbs including La Fustera [1]. Such efforts underscore the intensity of his current regimen [1].
uncertain return to platform
Prior to this upload, Van der Poel had not shared any cycling activities on Strava since 2023 [1]. His last appearance on the app followed a similar pattern—a brief, cryptic reappearance [1]. In November 2025, he posted a running workout titled “Is this my Strava-comeback?” which proved temporary [1]. After that single entry, prolonged inactivity resumed [1]. Observers now question whether this latest action signals sustained engagement or another fleeting gesture [1]. His team, Alpecin-Deceuninck, has not commented publicly on the matter [1].
upcoming competitive schedule
While no official announcement has been made, speculation persists regarding participation in the Tour of Switzerland before the Tour de France [1]. This potential outing aligns with typical pre-Great Race preparations among top contenders [GPT]. The published calendar confirms major objectives ahead but does not specify intermediate races [2]. Given his form demonstrated through this Strava effort, expectations remain high for peak performance during July’s grand tour [1].